The bill amends various sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to establish the Office of Public Counsel Act, which aims to enhance oversight and accountability within state administrative agencies. It creates the position of Public Counsel, appointed by the Legislature for a six-year term, with the authority to investigate administrative acts, issue subpoenas, and conduct inspections. The bill also introduces deputy public counsels for specific areas such as corrections and public welfare services, while repealing existing sections related to the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare and the Nebraska Correctional System to streamline oversight under the new framework. Additionally, it emphasizes confidentiality of certain information and eliminates a penalty associated with the Legislative Performance Audit Committee, which is being dissolved.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the Division of Legislative Oversight within the Legislative Council, which will conduct assessments and investigations of state government operations, and creates the Legislative Oversight Committee to oversee this division. The Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare is also established within this division, tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct in the child welfare system. The bill enhances the powers of the Inspector General, including the ability to issue subpoenas and access confidential information, while ensuring that investigation reports remain confidential and are not subject to public records requests. Overall, the amendments aim to improve accountability, oversight, and transparency within Nebraska's child welfare and correctional systems.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43-4301, 43-4302, 43-4303, 43-4317, 43-4318, 43-4320, 43-4321, 43-4322, 43-4323, 43-4324, 43-4325, 43-4326, 43-4327, 43-4328, 43-4329, 43-4330, 43-4331, 43-4332, 47-901, 47-902, 47-903, 47-904, 47-905, 47-907, 47-908, 47-909, 47-910, 47-911, 47-912, 47-913, 47-914, 47-915, 47-916, 47-917, 47-918, 47-919, 47-920, 28-711, 28-712.01, 29-2011.02, 29-2011.03, 50-401.01, 50-402, 50-406, 50-406.01, 50-407, 50-408, 50-409, 50-410, 50-416, 50-418, 50-420, 50-1201, 50-1202, 50-1203, 50-1204, 50-1205, 50-1205.01, 50-1206, 50-1210, 50-1211, 50-1212, 50-1303, 50-1304, 73-401, 77-2711, 81-1114, 83-178, 84-304, 84-311, 84-322, 84-910
Final Reading: 43-4301, 43-4302, 43-4303, 43-4317, 43-4318, 43-4320, 43-4321, 43-4322, 43-4323, 43-4324, 43-4325, 43-4326, 43-4327, 43-4328, 43-4329, 43-4330, 43-4331, 43-4332, 47-901, 47-902, 47-903, 47-904, 47-905, 47-907, 47-908, 47-909, 47-910, 47-911, 47-912, 47-913, 47-914, 47-915, 47-916, 47-917, 47-918, 47-920, 28-711, 28-712.01, 29-2011.02, 29-2011.03, 50-401.01, 50-402, 50-406, 50-406.01, 50-407, 50-408, 50-409, 50-410, 50-416, 50-418, 50-420, 50-1201, 50-1202, 50-1203, 50-1204, 50-1205, 50-1205.01, 50-1206, 50-1209, 50-1210, 50-1211, 50-1212, 50-1213, 50-1303, 50-1304, 73-401, 77-2711, 81-1114, 83-178, 84-304, 84-311, 84-322, 84-910
Slip Law: 43-4301, 43-4302, 43-4303, 43-4317, 43-4318, 43-4320, 43-4321, 43-4322, 43-4323, 43-4324, 43-4325, 43-4326, 43-4327, 43-4328, 43-4329, 43-4330, 43-4331, 43-4332, 47-901, 47-902, 47-903, 47-904, 47-905, 47-907, 47-908, 47-909, 47-910, 47-911, 47-912, 47-913, 47-914, 47-915, 47-916, 47-917, 47-918, 47-920, 28-711, 28-712.01, 29-2011.02, 29-2011.03, 50-401.01, 50-402, 50-406, 50-406.01, 50-407, 50-408, 50-409, 50-410, 50-416, 50-418, 50-420, 50-1201, 50-1202, 50-1203, 50-1204, 50-1205, 50-1205.01, 50-1206, 50-1209, 50-1210, 50-1211, 50-1212, 50-1213, 50-1303, 50-1304, 73-401, 77-2711, 81-1114, 83-178, 84-304, 84-311, 84-322, 84-910