LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would use state and federal money to improve programs designed to help keep elderly people living in their homes instead of in care centers.
State Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln introduced the bill, which would have the state spend $8.5 million to qualify for $36 million in federal funds over the next two fiscal years. Bolz said she expects the cost of the bill to decrease after staffers and officials meet to discuss it Friday.
The money would be used for existing home and community-based services, such as adult day care or respite services.
Legislators voted 31-11 Wednesday to move the bill to the second round of debate.
The bill would also create a task force to examine the needs of the state’s aging population.
It would be a mistake to let this opportunity go, Bolz said.
“This is about providing our most vulnerable aging citizens with the services they need to stay where they are, to save our state money and to age gracefully,” she said.
Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion introduced, and later withdrew, an amendment that would have eliminated the grant application process from the bill.
When the federal money is gone there will be a clamoring to fund the program with state money, he said.
“That, my friends, is a textbook example of how to grow government,” Kintner said.
Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha voted for the bill. No one complains about federal roads money or rails against farm subsidies, he said.
“This talk about big government - it is a campaign strategy and not a policy approach to government,” he said.
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The bill is LB690
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