This bill amends various sections of Nebraska's statutes concerning child abuse and neglect, redefining key terms and altering the reporting requirements for mandated reporters. A significant addition is the provision that allows sufficiently mature minors to engage in independent activities without being classified as victims of child abuse or neglect. The bill clarifies that child abuse includes knowingly, intentionally, or negligently placing a child in dangerous situations and specifies the roles and training requirements for mandatory reporters. It mandates that these individuals complete training within the first ninety days of employment and every two years thereafter, covering essential topics such as identification and reporting of child abuse, trauma-informed responses, and implicit bias. Additionally, a statewide toll-free number for reporting child abuse and neglect is established to ensure prompt reporting to the appropriate authorities.

Moreover, the bill amends the Nebraska Juvenile Code to clarify jurisdiction over Indian children, granting exclusive jurisdiction to the district court for related proceedings under the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Act. It modifies the criteria for terminating parental rights, allowing courts to do so when it is in the best interests of the juvenile while introducing new guidelines for evaluating parental responsibilities. Importantly, the bill protects parental rights by stating that allowing a sufficiently mature juvenile to engage in independent activities cannot be used as a basis for the juvenile court to exercise jurisdiction or terminate parental rights. The legislation aims to strengthen the framework for addressing child welfare and parental rights in Nebraska through improved training, reporting, and inter-agency cooperation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-101, 28-707, 28-710, 28-711, 28-714, 28-715, 28-716, 28-728, 28-729, 43-247, 43-292