Autism Coalition Members:

Just wanted to thank all of you for attending the meeting yesterday and the great insights Rich, Aubri and I got from you.  With the diverse connections and expertise in the room, we have a great start on the 2013 legislative session.  Below you will find our memo that went out to clients yesterday giving the lay of the land this year and important links you will want to keep for future reference.  Feel free to forward this message to your groups and supporters.  You may also want to start the message off with an explanation of the initiative this year and that regular communications will be forwarded as the legislature progresses.  Additionally Legislative Alerts, asking for action by the coalition partners, will be sent out.  Finally, ask that they forward any communications with Senators or their staffs back to us so we can keep track of this ever changing landscape.

Please keep information flowing to us on new names to add to coalition list. Any questions, comments, concerns, etc. – email or call us.

Again, many thanks.

MEMORANDUM

January 10, 2013

TO:                 Autism Speaks

FROM:            Rich Lombardi and Julie Erickson, Registered Lobbyists

                        American Communications Group, Inc.

RE:                  2013 Legislative Session

Yesterday, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature convened for the 103rd Legislature, 1st Session.  The legislature elected a new speaker and committee chairs by secret ballot, and spent the afternoon selecting members for each committee.  Go to (http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/committees/roster.pdf) to see the committee chairs and committee membership.

The tentative Legislative Session Calendar (http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/session/tcalendar.pdf) shows few breaks for this 90 day session with adjournment set for June 5, 2012.  Today bill introduction began and will run through January 23^rd.  Go to (http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/search_by_date.php?SessionDay=2013) to see bills introduced.

This session brings 10 new senators, and one former senator (Ernie Chambers) to the floor.  Visit this link for a listing of your 2013 legislative body: http://www.omaha.com/article/20121209/NEWS/121209738

Below you will find recent news links regarding this session:

·         Journal Star

o   Adams Elected Speaker: http://journalstar.com/legislature/adams-elected-speaker-of-the-legislature/article_c333975e-da85-52ef-bf07-1e84c6ee4705.html?comment_form=true

o   Mello Appropriations Chair: http://journalstar.com/legislature/mello-predictions-of-conflict-unfortunate/article_f7a21785-c2da-598d-8921-93ae066b4521.html

o   Changes to Legislature: http://journalstar.com/legislature/session-s-st-day-brings-families-changes-to-legislature/article_34e949c1-eb51-5b3a-945e-b596546a9f3f.html

o   Money will be focus for session: http://journalstar.com/legislature/money-will-be-focus-for-legislative-session/article_43fda6f2-5cc1-5f55-9171-7d463c1967cc.html

·         World Herald

o   Legislature more Moderate: http://www.omaha.com/article/20130109/NEWS/701109973/1685

o   Adams Elected Speaker: http://www.omaha.com/article/20130109/NEWS/130109527/1626#sen-greg-adams-elected-speaker-of-nebraska-legislature

o   Setting up for new session: http://www.omaha.com/article/20130108/NEWS/701089931/1688#setting-up-for-the-new-session

For reference, the legislative floor action and committee hearings can be viewed online through live streaming by going tohttp://www.netnebraska.org/publicmedia/capitol.html.  You can also watch live legislative floor action on your local public NET television channel (for Lincoln, this is channel17).  As always, bills and amendments will also be posted on the Legislature’s website.

We will start our weekly reports to you next week.

Here we go.