LB78A is an appropriation bill that provides funding to the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out the provisions of LB78, the underlying substantive bill from the 109th Legislature, First Session. The bill appropriates money from the Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Housing Assistance Fund for fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26, with the funds designated for state aid to support the program. It also specifies that the appropriated funds are to be used only for that purpose.
The bill is a fiscal measure rather than a policy overhaul: it supplies the money needed to implement the related survivor housing assistance program and directs how those dollars may be spent. It further prohibits the use of the appropriation for permanent or temporary salaries or per diem payments for state employees, limiting the funds to programmatic aid rather than administrative compensation.
Impact
LB78A amends state appropriations law by creating a targeted funding stream for the Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Housing Assistance Fund and directing those dollars to DHHS for state aid. Its practical effect is to support housing assistance services for survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking while restricting the use of the appropriation to that specific purpose and excluding employee salary or per diem expenditures.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have had broad, noncontroversial support. It advanced 41-0, adopted an amendment 29-0, and passed final reading 49-0, indicating unanimous approval at each recorded stage. The voting history suggests consensus around funding the survivor housing assistance program and no recorded opposition in the available materials.
Contention
No substantive contention is reflected in the available committee or floor materials. The only notable procedural point is the adoption of amendment Bostar AM931, but the record provided does not describe any disagreement over its substance. Overall, the bill’s appropriation for survivor housing assistance appears to have been viewed as a straightforward funding measure with bipartisan or unanimous support.