Nebraska lawmakers are set to debate whether the state treasurer's office should be eliminated.

Debate on the measure (LR284CA) introduced by Sen. Dennis Utter of Hastings was scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

He says he introduced it to save the state money and that services now done by the office such as returning unclaimed property could be done by other state agencies.

Current State Treasurer Shane Osborn opposes the measure even though he isn't running for re-election. He says it's important residents have someone they've elected to help oversee the state's finances.

If OK'd by lawmakers, the proposal would go to a statewide vote. If approved, the office would be gone in 2013.