This bill amends section 81-520.02 of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to modify the penalties associated with violations of the statewide open burning ban. Specifically, it changes the classification of the misdemeanor for such violations from a Class IV to a Class III misdemeanor. Additionally, the bill introduces a provision allowing municipalities or rural and suburban fire protection districts to charge a fee to individuals who violate the open burning ban. This fee is intended to cover the costs incurred by these entities in responding to and extinguishing fires that result from such violations.

Furthermore, the bill allows municipalities and fire protection districts to establish a fee structure that aligns with the approximate costs of their response efforts. The original section 81-520.02 is repealed as part of this legislative update. Overall, the bill aims to enhance enforcement of the open burning ban and ensure that local authorities can recover costs associated with fire response efforts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 81-520.02