PREPARED BY: Bill Biven, Jr.
LB 549 DATE PREPARED: February 20, 2025
PHONE: 402-471-0054
Revision: 00
FISCAL NOTE
LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ANALYST ESTIMATE
ESTIMATE OF FISCAL IMPACT – STATE AGENCIES (See narrative for political subdivision estimates)
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
EXPENDITURES REVENUE EXPENDITURES REVENUE
GENERAL FUNDS $12,500 $2,500
CASH FUNDS
FEDERAL FUNDS
OTHER FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS $12,500 $2,500
Any Fiscal Notes received from state agencies and political subdivisions are attached f ollowing the Legislative Fiscal Analyst Estimate.
LB549 amends §79- 804, §79-805, & §79-814.01 to allow a school board to employ a chaplain without a certificate issued by the
Commissioner of Education & to provide powers & duties to the State Board of Education.
A school board can employ a chaplain to perform various duties at the school including providing academic, career, emotional, &
behavioral health supports to students.
Prior to employment of a chaplain, school boards will develop a policy for t he employment of an uncertified individuals to perform
various duties at the school. This policy will include provisions relating to the employment, discipline, continued education, & termination
of employment of a chaplain.
The chaplain will not be required to hold a certificate to teach, administer, or perform special services in this state.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Prior to employment, the chaplain will be subject to a criminal history record information check & will pay any required fees for t hat
criminal background c heck. The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) will conduct the search for criminal history record information relating to
an applicant for employment as a chaplain at the request of the Commissioner of Education.
The State Board of Education will determine & set the costs for processing criminal history record information checks.
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) estimates the need for $12,500 in FY2025 -26 to develop an application process & to
adjust their computer systems for the submission of work authorizations & background checks. They also estimate a need for $2,500
for FY2026-27 & each year thereafter to process the applications & for upkeep of the computer system.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES STATE BUDGET DIVISION: REVIEW OF AGENCY & POLT. SUB. RESPONSE
LB: 549 AM: AGENCY/POLT. SUB: Department of Education
REVIEWED BY: Kimberly Burns DATE: 02/21/2025 PHONE: (402) 471-4171
COMMENTS: Agree with the Department of Education’s FY 2025-26 estimate of fiscal impact resulting from LB 549, but
dispute additional ongoing impact for FY 2026-27 and subsequent years, as any additional impact could lik ely be
absorbed within existing resources.
Please complete ALL (5) blanks in the first three lines. 2025
LB
(1) 549 FISCAL NOTE
State Agency OR Political Subdivision Name:
(2)
Education
Prepared by:
(3) Lane Carr Date Prepared:
(4)
2.13.25 Phone:
(5)
402.419.3012
ESTIMATE PROVIDED BY STATE AGENCY OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
EXPENDITURES REVENUE EXPENDITURES REVENUE
GENERAL FUNDS
$12,500 $2,500
CASH FUNDS
FEDERAL FUNDS
OTHER FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS
$12,500 $2,500
Explanation of Estimate:
Currently, background checks for non- certificated staff like bus drivers, cafeteria staff, and maintenance staff
are processed by the local school districts according to their policies. LB549 would require chaplains to
undergo a background check through the process NDE uses for certificated staff, and NDE would incur initial
cost to develop an application process and adjust computer systems for the submission of work authorizations
and background checks. There would also be an ongoing cost of staff to process applications and upkeep the
system.
The NDE estimates the initial set up cost to be $12,500. The estimated continued cost for staff time is $2,500
per year.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _
BREAKDOWN BY MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE
Personal Services:
POSITION TITLE
NUMBER OF POSITIONS
25-26 26-27
2025-26
EXPENDITURES
2026-27
EXPENDITURES
Benefits………………………………...……
Operating…………………………...………. $12,500 $2,500
Travel………………………………………..
Capital outlay…………………...…………..
Aid…………………………………………...
Capital improvements……………………...
TOTAL……………………………… ..... 12,500 $2,500