This bill amends sections of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska related to public health and welfare, specifically focusing on the roles and responsibilities of health directors and the definitions of key terms. It introduces new definitions, including "community-wide directed health measure," which refers to public health actions involving the entire population of a jurisdiction without known epidemiological links, and "epidemiological link," which describes situations where exposure to a communicable disease is plausible. The bill also modifies the existing definitions of core public health functions and local public health departments.

Additionally, the bill outlines the powers and duties of health directors, emphasizing the requirement for written approval from a majority of elected representatives before issuing community-wide directed health measures. It mandates that these measures be ratified by the local board of health at their next meeting. The health director is also tasked with appointing staff, organizing advisory councils, and ensuring compliance with public health standards. The original sections of the statutes being amended are repealed, streamlining the legal framework governing public health in Nebraska.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-1626, 71-1630, 71-1632