Many nursing homes in Nebraska may close if Gov. Dave Heineman's budget-cutting proposal were approved.

That's according to the lobbyist for the Nebraska Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes. The lobbyist, Brendon Polt, spoke on Tuesday to lawmakers.

The Legislature is meeting in a special legislative session to cut $334 million from the state budget because of declining state revenue.

The state budget approved by lawmakers early this year called for increasing state funding to some health care providers, including nursing homes, both this fiscal year and next.

Heineman is asking lawmakers to keep the planned increase this year but not increase funding next year. Doing so would cut nearly $20 million from the budget.

Nebraska's largest state agency might not lay off any employees even if its budget is cut by nearly $9 million as planned.

Kerry Winterer is chief executive of the Department of Health and Human Services. He told lawmakers on Tuesday that the agency instead would try to save money by leaving open vacant positions, consolidating offices and taking other steps.

More than 6,000 people across Nebraska work for the department.

Gov. Dave Heineman's proposal to cut the agency's budget by nearly $9 million is part of his plan to shave $334 million from the two-year state budget. He's trying to offset less-than-expected state revenue.

Winterer says his department employees would have to take on extra duties, which could delay some services.