The proposed bill establishes the Juvenile Probation Administration Act, which transfers juvenile probation functions from the Office of Probation Administration in the judicial branch to a newly created Juvenile Probation Agency within the executive branch. The bill outlines the agency's structure, including the appointment of a Juvenile Probation Administrator by the Governor, who will oversee operations and set policies for juvenile probation. The agency will supervise juveniles on probation, conduct training for probation officers, and maintain statistical information on probation practices. It also creates juvenile probation districts, appoints juvenile probation officers, and ensures manageable caseloads, while allowing for volunteer involvement in supervision.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to update terminology and clarify roles within the juvenile justice system, replacing references to the "Office of Probation Administration" with "Juvenile Probation Agency." It introduces new terms and responsibilities for probation officers, enhances restorative justice practices, and establishes performance metrics for officers. The bill also creates two new funds to support probation services and mandates the transition of relevant roles and responsibilities from the Office to the new agency, ensuring employee rights and benefits are retained. Overall, the legislation aims to modernize and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of juvenile probation services in Nebraska.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 29-2260.01, 29-2260.02, 29-2270, 29-2271, 29-2272, 29-2273, 25-2407, 28-726, 29-2246, 29-2248, 29-2252.01, 29-2253, 29-2257, 29-2258, 29-2292, 29-4803, 43-247.03, 43-250, 43-254, 43-258, 43-260, 43-260.01, 43-281, 43-286, 43-286.01, 43-290.01, 43-297.01, 43-412, 43-425, 43-1302, 43-1303, 43-1304, 43-1309, 43-1311.03, 43-1503, 43-2404.01, 43-2404.02, 43-2411, 43-2412, 43-4101, 43-4102, 43-4203, 43-4206, 43-4304, 43-4314, 43-4316, 43-4318, 43-4319, 43-4320, 43-4321, 43-4324, 43-4326, 43-4327, 43-4328, 43-4331, 43-4703, 50-1203, 68-1732, 79-303.01, 79-2121, 81-1401, 81-1427, 83-1216