Former Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha has a suggestion for what to do with the state's electric chair: Give it to him.

"I'd make sure it never saw the light of day again," he said.

Last year, the chair was found to be a cruel and unusual way to carry out Nebraska's death penalty. Some McCook officials said this week they'd like to put it in a museum honoring the late Sen. George Norris, a force in the rural electrification movement.

Chambers is dead set against that, saying it would turn it into a carnival sideshow.

"I would destroy it," he said.

He has an idea how to do that, but wouldn't be specific. He did confirm that the method he'd choose would not endanger life, health or property.

And no vestige would remain to be cut into pieces, sold or in any way memorialized.

Chambers fought against the use of the electric chair during his 38 years in the Legislature knowing, he said, that some day it would be ruled unconstitutional.

He left office last year because of term limits. Thursday, he said if he were still in office, he would make sure senators could not replace electrocution with lethal injection.

Pay for jury duty varies widely among states

Think you don't get enough compensation for that little civic stint called jury duty, the one that pulls you away from clients or that big project that's due shortly?

Thirty-five dollars a day, plus mileage, doesn't do it for you?

Pamela Scott, president of the Nebraska Clerks of the District Court Association, told the Judiciary Committee this week that what Nebraska pays, at least for the initial day in court, is better than 46 other states.

Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial - who was himself called to jury duty in the past year - believes paying minimum wage, which is $6.55 an hour and will go to $7.25 in July, would reflect a greater appreciation for Nebraskans' time.

No one testified in support of his bill (LB4). But at least a couple of people, including Scott, opposed it, saying the change would benefit no one.

Scott's survey showed that jurors in many states don't get paid until the second day of service. More than half of the states pay mileage.

In Missouri, what you get depends on the county in which you serve. Pay ranges from $6 a day plus 7 cents a mile to $50 a day plus 30 cents a mile.

California pays jurors $15 a day, beginning on the second day of service, except for government employees who already get their regular pay for those days.

Iowans get $30 a day for seven days, and $50 a day after that, plus mileage. In Maine they get $10 a day.

Jurors in New Mexico get minimum wage and mileage. In New Jersey, they get $5 a day for the first three days and $40 a day after that. North Dakotans receive $25 the first day and $50 for additional days.

A 2007 study by the National Center for State Courts said states recently have begun to recognize the relationship between juror pay and the proportion of citizens excused for financial hardship, and minority representation on juries. As a result, they have increased payments, but pay less or not at all for the first day.

Mosaic likely will take BSDC clients

Mosaic, a private nonprofit agency that operates institutions and smaller homes for people with developmental disabilities, will open 11 group homes across the state that likely will become home to a number of people now living at the Beatrice State Developmental Center.

The daily costs for Mosaic will be less than at BSDC and likely will save the state at least $3 million, said Cynthia Schroeder, Mosaic's chief financial officer.

Mosaic costs will range from $354 to $481 per day for care that includes 24-hour nursing, she said. BSDC per diem costs are now about $603 for its fewer than 200 residents.

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.