Advisory Opinion 117

REQUESTED BY: Lori Paulsen, Compliance Specialist, Nebraska Department of Environmental Control.

QUESTION: May an employee of the Department of Environmental Control have a financial interest in a business which provides training to Waste Water Treatment Facility Operators for the purpose of helping them secure their operators certificates from the Department of Environmental Control?

CONCLUSION

See Analysis.

FACTS

Advisory Opinion 116

REQUESTED BY: V.G. Beisch, Assistant Treasurer, AT&T PAC Nebraska

QUESTION: 1) Can a separate segregated political fund earn interest on unexpended funds?

2) Can a separate segregated political fund pay federal income tax upon the interest earned on unexpended funds?

FACTS

Advisory Opinion 115

REQUESTED BY: Roger Christianson, Director, Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

QUESTION: Does a member of a Commisison have an impermissible interest in a contract by virtue of the Commissioner's being a contractor to a beneficiary of the grant?

CONCLUSION

See Analysis.

FACTS

Advisory Opinion 114

REQUESTED BY: Tom Moser, General Manager, Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District.

QUESTION: May a Director of a Natural Resources District be employed as a project operator for a rural water project functioning under the auspices of the Natural Resources District?

CONCLUSION

Yes.

FACTS

Advisory Opinion 113

REQUESTED BY: Gene D. Watson, General Counsel, Nebraska Public Power District and Stephen G. Olson, Attorney for Omaha Public Power District.

QUESTION: May public power districts finance and participate in activities opposing the qualification or passage of a ballot question?

CONCLUSION

See analysis.

FACTS

Advisory Opinion 112

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

Advisory Opinion 111

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?

Advisory Opinion 110

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

Advisory Opinion 108

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