Nebraska proposal would pay young people for conservation work

The Game and Parks Commission would administer the youth conservation program with other state agencies. Projects would conserve or develop natural resources, or improve environmentally important land and water under the commission's or Department of Labor's jurisdiction. The program would combine academic, environmental, and job skills training with personal growth opportunities. The commission would begin administering the program on January 1, 2027.

The commission would set an application or selection process and pay participants at least minimum wage. Participants would have to be Nebraska residents ages 16 through 20 and meet the bill's definition of opportunity youth: young people affected by trauma, with negative law enforcement contact, or struggling in school or at risk of not finishing. Participants would have to be unemployed and on probation or supervision, or assigned to a diversion program. The commission would make a special effort to select youth living in a qualified census tract. Participants would not be state employees and generally would not receive state employee benefits. Crew chiefs and other program administrative and supervisory staff would be commission employees. Each participant's program period would last six weeks.

The State Treasurer would transfer $750,000 from the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund to a new program fund. The new fund would pay for the Game and Parks Commission to carry out the youth conservation program. The transfer would occur only if the bill takes effect. The budget administrator would direct its dates and amounts. The transfer would be made as soon as administratively possible after the bill's effective date.