Merit Institute Merit

The Nebraska Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (NE-MEWRA)

Nebraska state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the 2024 Opportunity Scholarships Act (LB 1402; Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 79-3101 et seq.), Nebraska charter-equivalent option-enrollment framework, and Nebraska Workforce Development infrastructure.

THE NEBRASKA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (NE-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. Nebraska Legislature (Unicameral), regular session. Primary referral to Education Committee.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Nebraska Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (NE-MEWRA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Nebraska enacted the Opportunity Scholarships Act under LB 1402 (2024), codified at Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 79-3101 et seq., providing publicly funded scholarships for eligible students to attend approved nonpublic schools, administered by the Nebraska State Treasurer and approved Scholarship-Granting Organizations; that Nebraska’s option-enrollment framework operates under Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 79-232 et seq.; that the Nebraska Community College System operates under Neb. Rev. Stat. Ch. 85 Art. 15; that the Nebraska Department of Labor administers the Career Scholarship and Reemployment Services program; and that Nebraska publishes school-performance data through the Department of Education (AQuESTT). This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH NEBRASKA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Nebraska outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Nebraska Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“NE-OBSA”).
  2. (b) “NE-OSA” means the Opportunity Scholarships Act under Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 79-3101 et seq.
  3. (c) “NDOL ITA” means a Nebraska Department of Labor training account.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Nebraska Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 79-3101 et seq. (Opportunity Scholarships Act).
  • Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 79-232 et seq. (option enrollment).
  • Neb. Rev. Stat. Ch. 85 Art. 15 (Community College System).
  • Neb. Rev. Stat. Ch. 48 (Department of Labor).

TITLE II — NEBRASKA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of NE-OBSA

  1. (a) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, shall designate a Nebraska Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“NE-OBSA”).
  2. (b) NE-OBSA shall authorize provisional schools without requiring regional-accreditor accreditation.

Sec. 202. Outcome-Based Authorization Standard

  1. (a) Authorization requires publication of outcome metrics under Sec. 401.
  2. (b) Facilities, safety, and background-check standards applicable under Neb. Rev. Stat. Ch. 79.
  3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. Opportunity Scholarships Act Extension

  1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a participating school under Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 79-3101 et seq.
  2. (b) The Nebraska State Treasurer and approved Scholarship-Granting Organizations shall treat Title II-authorized schools equivalently.

Sec. 302. NDOL Training Accounts

  1. (a) The Nebraska Department of Labor shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of training-account disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the NE-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Nebraska Outcome-Metrics Registry

  1. (a) NE-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/NERMC/FRAC attainment.
  2. (b) Data sources: the Nebraska Longitudinal Data System and NDOL wage records, to the extent permitted by law.

Sec. 402. Coordination with the Federal NLMF

  1. (a) Crosswalked to the Federal NLMF.
  2. (b) Nothing authorizes disclosure of PII except as permitted under Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 84-712 et seq. (Public Records) and 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g (FERPA).

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

  1. (a) Suspension of NE-OSA participating status; NE-OBSA Registry suspension; administrative penalty up to $500,000 per willful violation.
  2. (b) No private right of action.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect the first day of the month following enactment.

Canonical federal version: MEWRA. Other Nebraska bills: NE-ACSA, NE-GT&P, NE-AI-Workforce.