Veteran preference bill advanced

By Christine Scalora and Joseph Moore, Nebraska News Service

LINCOLN - Disabled veterans would get a preference on state contracts under a bill state senators advanced Thursday.

Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont introduced the bill. As amended, it would give resident disabled veterans a preference for bids on state contracts, if all other factors were equal.

Helping Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans establish their own businesses is one of the best ways to reduce the unacceptably high unemployment rate of that group, Janssen said. The 2011 unemployment rate was 11 percent in Nebraska, he said, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

“Winning a state contract or even bidding on one can be a great launching point for new business owners,” Janssen said.  

To qualify under the bill, a resident must have served in the Armed Forces, the reserves, or National Guard and must also have a disability rating letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or a disability determination from the U.S. Department of Defense. Such a veteran must also own more than 50 percent of the company seeking the contract.

Originally, the bill would have applied to all public contracts, not just state contracts, but concerns were raised about how the law would affect other rules in place for municipalities and other political subdivisions.  

Wednesday, senators adopted an amendment that applies the same preference to the state’s five enterprise zones. The amendment was introduced by Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha. Enterprise zones are areas of economic distress where unemployment and poverty levels are significantly higher than state and national averages, he said. The amendment was adopted 29 to 0.