A public official could respond to specific inquiries by the press or the public for information or for his or her opinion on a ballot question. A member of the Legislature could express his or her opinion on a ballot question and could communicate that opinion to constituents, except through the use of mass mailings or mass communications conducted at public expense. A public employee could engage in campaign activity except during his or her government work time or when engaged in official duties. LB 242 would make changes to accountability and disclosure requirements for school board members by requiring school board members to file conflict of interest statements when necessary. The bill would also prohibit all school board members from working as teachers in the school district in which they serve.
Current law exempts Class V school districts from the provision.
UNL coaches Legislators began select file debate on the bill April 26. At that time, legislators adopted an amendment offered by Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers that would require the individuals at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln serving as a head football coach, men s basketball coach or women s basketball coach to file a statement of financial interest. There was nothing unfair about requiring that the coach be required to report income, he said. He is a state employee operating a state program. Originally, the amendment would have also required the UNL athletic director to file the report.