Nebraska Governor Heineman Signs LB 63 into Law

May 27, 2009 -- (Lincoln Neb.) -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman today signed LB 63. The bill addresses violent crime by enacting increased penalties and new crimes. It also creates a new Office of Violence Prevention within the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (Crime Commission).

LB 63 was introduced by Sen. Mike Friend and prioritized by Sen. Brad Ashford, both of Omaha. It strengthens penalties for crimes including first degree assault, assault of an officer, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a firearm at a school, and possession of a stolen firearm.

“These are measures that can help address an up-tick in violent crime in our urban areas,” Gov. Heineman said. “It will give our partners in law enforcement and the judicial branch new tools to help with crime prevention efforts. I want to thank Senators Friend and Ashford and Attorney General Jon Bruning for their support of this bill.”

The bill also defines new crimes under the Nebraska Criminal Code including the application of graffiti, which is a misdemeanor on first offense and a felony upon repeated offenses. Judges have the option of requiring defendants to clean-up graffiti-scarred property, ordering a defendant to counseling, and ordering a one year driver license suspension. Other newly-recognized crimes include the possession of a deadly weapon during another felony-level crime and the discharge of a firearm at a motor vehicle.

The Crime Commission’s Office of Violence Prevention will be responsible for developing, fostering, promoting, and assessing violence prevention programs in the state. The office’s director and a six-member advisory council will be appointed by the Governor.

The bill contains the emergency clause and therefore takes immediate effect.

Source: Nebraska Governor