LINCOLN- Nebraska Department of Education officials say their agency does not have the resources necessary to manage a new federal food aid program, the same one rejected by Gov. Jim Pillen last month. During a state Board of Education meeting, Education Commissioner Brian Maher said that he had "considerable conversations" with Nebraska lawmakers and advocates surrounding the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, which, if accepted, would have provided millions of dollars in food aid to low-income families.

States had to express interest in the program by January 1st, but Pillen decided against it in late December. However, the Nebraska Department of Education has the authority to take on the program independently, but, according to Maher, lacks the resources necessary to handle such an endeavor. "Certainly, in our office, we've had meetings and worked to be clear what role, if any role, we have with EBT administration," said Maher, "We're not set up to handle EBT administration at the NDE."

Maher said that, in order to administer the federal funding offered by the program, the Department would have to increase its staff or reallocate duties. Hardware, software, EBT cards and other materials would also need to be obtained by the Department, costing an estimated $300,000. "The item is not currently on our list of legislative priorities for the Department of Education, but that's not surprising--we weren't aware of this until fairly recently."

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