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 to ensure clarity in the law. The bill elevates the penalties associated with assaults on these professionals, establishing specific classifications for such offenses and mandating that health care and behavioral health facilities display warnings about the seriousness of assaulting these workers, which may be punishable as felonies. Additionally, it repeals outdated provisions related to assaults on officers and emergency responders, streamlining the legal framework to focus on the newly defined categories of victims.

Furthermore, the bill addresses unlawful membership recruitment into criminal organizations, classifying this offense as a Class IV felony when an individual coerces or intimidates another to join or remain in such organizations. It modifies the definition of "habitual criminal" to include specific felonies, increasing the mandatory minimum sentence for habitual offenders committing serious crimes. The bill also clarifies the sentencing process for habitual criminals, ensuring that their status is not disclosed to the jury during trials and that pardoned convictions due to innocence are not considered under the habitual criminal statute. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen legal protections for vulnerable workers and enhance penalties for organized crime activities.

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