LAWMAKERS TO STUDY DRUG FUNDS POLICE NOT SHARING MONEY WITH SCHOOLS

The question of whether police in Nebraska are skirting the State
Constitution by not sharing drug-forfeiture money with public schools could
be decided this summer.

Lawmakers on both sides of the controversy agreed Tuesday to conduct a study
before a final vote is taken on a bill that would end the practice. However,
the compromise called for the bill to advance to the third and final round
of legislative debate.

From that position, Legislative Bill 44 will serve as a reminder to police
that the Legislature is serious about the issue, said State Sen. Ernie
Chambers of Omaha.

It also would allow lawmakers to take a single vote next year to send the
measure to the governor.

The controversial issue arose recently when it was revealed that law
enforcement agencies were funneling drug money through the federal
government, which takes a 20 percent cut and returns the rest to the police.
The Nebraska Constitution requires a 50-50 split between police and schools.

Chambers introduced the amendment that would close the loophole. He also
introduced an amendment that would require the 80 percent returned in
federal drug cases to be split 50-50 between police and schools. That
amendment advanced on a 25-1 vote.

Chambers said he agreed to the compromise because he was confident that a
study would show he was right and that police are violating the Constitution.

A key opponent of Chambers' bill, Sen. Curt Bromm of Wahoo, said he agreed
to the compromise because it would allow law enforcement officials to
comment on the subject.

The only opponent to the compromise was Sen. Jerry Matzke of Sidney, who
said there was no need to advance the bill to the final round of debate in
order to have a study.

Supporters of the police practice have argued that the federal
drug-forfeiture procedure makes it easier for police to seize and keep
drug-related property. They also said law enforcement needs the extra cash
to wage the drug war.