REQUESTED BY: Michael Nolan, City Administrator, City of Norfolk

QUESTION: The City of Norfolk poses a series of questions on the permissible scope of political activities of public officials and public employees in connection with a ballot issue. These questions are detailed below.

CONCLUSION

See Analysis

FACTS

REQUESTED BY: Patricia C. Snyder, Executive Director, Nebraska Health Care Association.

QUESTION: 1) May a separate segregated political fund accept contributions from nonmembers of a professional or trade association sponsoring the fund?

2) May a separate segregated political fund of a professional or trade association accept contributions from members of the association which are nonprofit organizations?

REQUESTED BY: Keith Drury, District Manager, Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District.

QUESTION: Must a Director of a Natural Resources District file an Employment of Immediate Family Members Disclosure Statement if the spouse of the Director intermittently performs services for the District for which the spouse is paid a nominal fee?

CONCLUSION

No.

FACTS

REQUESTED BY: James R. Ritzman, President, Arjay Advertising

QUESTION: Is the provider or seller of advertising specialty items to a candidate committee acting on behalf of that committee thus requiring the provider or seller to disclose certain expenditures to the candidate committee?

CONCLUSION

No

FACTS

REQUESTED BY: Gerald D. Quick, Legislation Manager, Peoples Natural Gas.

QUESTION: (1) What restrictions on solicitations are placed on multi-state PACs? (2) What are the reporting requirements of multi-state PACs?

CONCLUSION

See Analysis

FACTS

REQUESTED BY: Dick Hargesheimer, Director of Research

QUESTION: May contributions from corporations be solicited to defray the costs of a symposium for members of the Nebraska Legislature?

CONCLUSION

There is no prohibition under the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act with respect to such corporate contributions, unless the corporations are principals of lobbyists. See Analysis.

FACTS

REQUESTED BY: Senator Rex Haberman, Forty Fourth Legislative District.

QUESTION: May campaign funds be used to purchase a camera so that pictures may be taken of the candidate speaking to service clubs and other groups?

CONCLUSION

Yes.

FACTS

REQUESTED BY: Senator Bernice Labedz, Fifth Legislative District.

QUESTION: Are officers, directors, shareholders, employees or members of a corporation employing a lobbyist considered principals under the Act?

CONCLUSION

See Analysis

FACTS

REQUESTED BY: Kim Robak, Legal Counsel for the Nebraska Democratic Party

QUESTION: Are funds received from a bankcard company by a political party through an "affinity group bankcard concept" contributions from the bankcard company to the political party?

CONCLUSION

No

FACTS

REQUESTED BY: Joe E. Hanna, Secretary, Board of Education, Omaha School District.

QUESTION: (1) If a school board enters into a contract with a corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of that corporation, or a separate entity selling the products of that corporation, does a board member who is the holder of stock in that corporation worth more than $10,000 but which represents less than a 5% equity interest in that corporation have a prohibited interest in the contract between the school board and the corporation?

CONCLUSION

No

FACTS