LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill to make additional space available at the state’s prison work camp in McCook.

Senators gave the measure first-round approval Wednesday on a 38-0 vote.

The bill by state Sen. Steve Lathrop, of Omaha, eliminates the need for the state’s Work Ethic Camp to reserve space for female offenders. The space is currently unused but cannot be set aside for other purposes because of existing state law.

Lathrop says he introduced the bill after hearing from Nebraska’s inspector general for correctional services that the space could be put to better use.

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