2012 Nebraska Revised Statutes
Chapter 37 - GAME AND PARKS
37-917 - Nebraska Youth Conservation Program; created; purpose; participants; qualification; payment; status; coordination with federal, state, and local programs.

37-917. Nebraska Youth Conservation Program; created; purpose; participants; qualification; payment; status; coordination with federal, state, and local programs.

(1) The Nebraska Youth Conservation Program is created. The purpose of the program is to employ Nebraska's at-risk youth on projects which contribute to conserving or developing natural resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important land and water under the jurisdiction of the commission. The program shall combine academic, environmental, and job skills training with personal growth opportunities for the participants. The commission may administer and maintain the program, directly or by means of contractual arrangement with an experienced service provider or the Department of Labor.

(2) Participants shall be at-risk youth who are at least sixteen years of age and not older than twenty-one years of age, unemployed, and residents of Nebraska. Special effort shall be made to select applicants residing in rural and urban high-poverty areas, as determined by the most recent federal census data.

(3) Participants shall be paid not less than the minimum wage described in section 48-1203. Participation in the program shall be for a period of six weeks for each participant. Participants and program supervisory personnel may be provided meals during the six-week work period. Protective clothing items shall be provided to participants and supervisory personnel as work conditions warrant.

(4) Participants in the Nebraska Youth Conservation Program may be considered temporary employees. This subsection does not apply to crew chiefs and other administrative and supervisory personnel of the program, all of whom may be employees of the commission or employees of an entity hired by or under contract with the commission or the Department of Labor to administer the program. The program shall not result in displacement of current employees or cause a reduction in current employees' hours or wages and shall be in compliance with applicable federal and state labor and education laws.

(5) The commission may coordinate with federal, state, and local programs that provide job training and placement services and education opportunities for participants after completing the program.