This bill amends several sections of Nebraska law concerning law enforcement, specifically focusing on residency requirements for sheriffs, uniform standards for sheriffs and their deputies, and continuing education mandates for law enforcement officers. Notably, it allows sheriffs in certain counties without a city of metropolitan, primary, or first class to not be residents of the county when filing for election, but they must reside in the county or an adjoining county while in office. Additionally, the bill introduces a new structure for sheriff uniforms, allowing sheriffs to determine the uniform's design and class based on their needs, while also specifying the components of the Class A, Class B, and honor guard uniforms.

The bill also revises the continuing education requirements for law enforcement officers, establishing specific hour requirements based on the size of the employing agency and mandating certain training topics, including de-escalation and anti-bias training. It specifies that officers are not required to meet these continuing education requirements in their first year of certification or during the year of retirement. The bill further harmonizes existing provisions and sets operative dates for the new regulations, while repealing the original sections that are being amended.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 23-1701, 23-1701.01, 32-604, 81-1414.07
Final Reading: 23-1701, 23-1701.01, 23-1717, 23-1719, 32-604, 81-1414.07
Slip Law: 23-1701, 23-1701.01, 23-1717, 23-1719, 32-604, 81-1414.07