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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 893
Introduced by Storm, 23; Lonowski, 33.
Read first time January 08, 2026
Committee: Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to education; to amend section 79-808, Reissue1
Revised Statutes of Nebraska; to replace the requirement that an2
individual applying for a Nebraska substitute teacher's certificate3
demonstrate human relations training; to require the State4
Department of Education to create an interpersonal relations5
training course and test for individuals seeking a substitute6
permit; and to repeal the original section. 7
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,8
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Section 1. Section 79-808, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is1
amended to read: 2
79-808 (1) The board shall establish, adopt, and promulgate3
appropriate rules, regulations, and procedures governing the issuance,4
renewal, conversion, suspension, and revocation of certificates and5
permits to teach, provide special services, and administer based upon (a)6
earned college credit in humanities, social and natural sciences,7
mathematics, or career and technical education, (b) earned college8
credit, or its equivalent in professional education, for particular9
teaching, special services, or administrative assignments, (c) criminal10
history record information if the applicant has not been a continuous11
Nebraska resident for five years immediately preceding application for12
the first issuance of a certificate, (d) human relations training or13
interpersonal relations training, as applicable, (e) successful teaching,14
administration, or provision of special services, and (f) moral, mental,15
and physical fitness for teaching, all in accordance with sound16
educational practices. Such rules, regulations, and procedures shall also17
provide for endorsement requirements to indicate areas of specialization18
on such certificates and permits. Such rules and regulations shall not19
require any test of basic skills. 20
(2)(a) (2) The board may issue a temporary certificate, valid for a21
period not to exceed two years, to any applicant for certification who22
has not completed the human relations training requirement.23
(b)(i) The board may issue a Nebraska substitute teacher's24
certificate to an applicant who is otherwise qualified for such25
certificate and who (i) has the required human relations training or (ii)26
has completed the interpersonal relations training course and passed the27
interpersonal relations training test as determined by the department28
pursuant to subdivision (2)(b)(ii) of this section.29
(ii) The State Department of Education shall create and make30
available an online interpersonal relations training course and test that31
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covers topics similar in substance to the required human relations1
training. Such course and test may be taken by individuals seeking a2
substitute permit as an alternative to the required human relations3
training. The department may charge a fee to individuals seeking to take4
such course and test in an amount not to exceed the costs of providing5
such services. 6
(3) Members of any advisory committee established by the board to7
assist the board in teacher education and certification matters shall be8
reimbursed for expenses as provided in sections 81-1174 to 81-1177. Each9
school district which has an employee who serves as a member of such10
committee and which is required to hire a person to replace such member11
during the member's attendance at meetings or activities of the committee12
or any subcommittee thereof shall be reimbursed from the Certification13
Fund for the expense it incurs from hiring a replacement. School14
districts may excuse employees who serve on such advisory committees from15
certain duties which conflict with any advisory committee duties.16
Sec. 2. Original section 79-808, Reissue Revised Statutes of17
Nebraska, is repealed. 18
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