This bill amends various sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to enhance protections for frontline behavioral health providers, health care workers, and public safety officers by prohibiting assaults against them. It introduces new definitions for these roles and redefines existing terms related to health care professionals. The bill categorizes assaults against these individuals into first, second, and third-degree offenses, establishing corresponding felony classifications. Additionally, it mandates that health care and behavioral health facilities display warnings about the serious consequences of assaulting these workers, emphasizing that such actions may be punishable as felonies.

Furthermore, the bill revises the classification of potentially disqualifying convictions, particularly concerning assaults on the newly defined categories of professionals. It specifies the degrees of assault and outlines criteria for what constitutes a potentially disqualifying conviction, including serious offenses like murder and robbery. The bill also addresses habitual criminals by requiring prior felony convictions to be disclosed during sentencing, while ensuring that such disclosures do not occur during the trial. It repeals several sections of the Revised Statutes related to specific assault classifications, streamlining the legal framework and enhancing penalties for serious criminal activities against vulnerable workers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-101, 28-115, 28-929.01, 28-929, 28-930, 28-931, 28-934, 28-929.02, 28-1351, 28-1354, 29-2221, 84-941.01