The proposed Medical Standards for Incarcerated Individuals Act aims to improve the quality of medical care for incarcerated individuals in Nebraska by establishing new definitions and mandates for the Department of Correctional Services and the Inspector General. The bill emphasizes the state's obligation to provide medical care that meets community standards and outlines protocols for managing chronic and acute medical conditions, ensuring timely access to treatment, and mandating the reporting of medical neglect. It also requires the development of standardized medical care protocols to be implemented by January 1, 2028.

Additionally, the bill expands the authority of the Office of Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System to investigate allegations of medical neglect and introduces new reporting requirements for health complaints. It ensures protection from liability for employees or contractors who report suspected medical neglect and mandates public reporting of investigations into inmate deaths related to medical neglect. The bill includes amendments to the procedures for the Inspector General, such as the requirement to release investigation reports within fifteen days and to conduct audits of compliance with the new medical standards, with public summaries released annually. Several sections of the Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, are repealed to facilitate these changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 50-1901, 50-1904, 50-1906, 50-1907, 50-1912