The bill, known as the Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Assistance Act, aims to enhance support for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking in Nebraska. It establishes a framework for housing-related assistance, which includes rental payments and utility costs, and creates the Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Housing Assistance Fund to facilitate these services. The Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with managing this assistance and may collaborate with qualified third-party organizations to provide necessary support. Additionally, the bill modifies the documentary stamp tax rate, increasing it to two dollars and thirty-two cents per one thousand dollars of value, and allocates a portion of the tax revenue to the newly created assistance fund.

Furthermore, the bill introduces considerations for sentencing in cases where the offender is a victim of abuse or trafficking. It allows courts to weigh the offender's status as a victim when determining sentences, adding new criteria that include whether the offender has been abused by a family member or is a trafficking victim. This change aims to ensure that the legal system recognizes the complexities surrounding victims who may also be offenders, promoting a more rehabilitative approach rather than purely punitive measures. The bill repeals the original sections of the statutes it amends, streamlining the legal framework surrounding these issues.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 76-901, 76-903, 77-1327
Final Reading: 29-2260, 76-901, 76-903, 77-1327
Slip Law: 29-2260, 76-901, 76-903, 77-1327