OMAHA — Nebraska is one of eight states with statistically higher rates of births from women on public assistance.

New census data released Monday says Nebraska joins Alaska, Utah, Texas, New Mexico, Iowa, Wisconsin and Tennessee in having higher than average rates of mothers age 15 to 50 on public assistance.

The figures are based on data from 2006, a decade after the passage of welfare reform in 1996. Census officials say the measure gave states greater flexibility to put in place initiatives to reduce welfare dependency for members of low-income families with children.

The national average rate of births from women on public assistance is nearly 155 births per 1,000.