Pubdate: Wed, 12 May 1999 Source: Omaha World-Herald (NE) Copyright: 1999 Omaha World-Herald Company. Contact: http://www.omaha.com/ Forum: http://chat.omaha.com/ 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D