Threats to Professional Licensure: State List

Nebraska

» Threat Type: Other: Tracking Software
» Threat Status:  Potential Threat
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: LB 717
Status:
Died upon adjournment.
Summary:

This tracking software legislation mandates that all state contractors use software to verify the amount of time they are working on a state contract. The software tracks total keystroke and mouse event frequency, and records a screenshot at least once every three minutes. It presents significant privacy and security concerns.

» Threat Type: “Right to Engage in a Lawful Occupation Act.” Seeks to establish the least restrictive means of regulating an occupation. Often proposes the elimination of licensure requirements for certain professions. Professional engineers aren’t specifically targeted, but are included.
» Threat Status:  Enacted
Legislative/Executive Order/Regulatory: Legislative
Bill Number: LB 299
Status:
Signed by Governor Ricketts on 4/23/2018.
Summary:

This measure requires that beginning in 2019, each standing committee of the Legislature annually review and analyze approximately 20% percent of the occupational regulations within the jurisdiction of the committee and prepare and submit an annual report electronically to the Clerk of the Legislature by December 15 of each year. Each committee shall complete this process for all occupational regulations within its jurisdiction within five years and every five years thereafter. Each report shall include the committee's recommendations regarding whether the occupational regulations should be terminated, continued, or modified.

NSPE contacted and worked directly alongside the Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers regarding this threatening piece of legislation.