LR298 LR298
2020 2020
ONE HUNDRED SIXTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION 298
Introduced by Howard, 9; Arch, 14; Bolz, 29; Brandt, 32; Cavanaugh, 6; Groene,
42; Hansen, B., 16; Lathrop, 12; Murman, 38; Quick, 35; Stinner,
48; Walz, 15; Williams, 36.
WHEREAS, in the summer of 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services notified the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature of
deteriorating conditions at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-
Geneva. Such conditions necessitated the relocation of female youth from the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Geneva due to living conditions posing a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the female youth residing at the facility under court order; and WHEREAS, the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature found,
through a series of public hearings and comments during the 2019 interim, that there was a breakdown in the day-to-day operations of the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Geneva, including (1) disrepair of the facilities making them uninhabitable, (2) inadequate staffing, (3) a lack of proper behavioral or
mental health services and treatment programming, and (4) a lack of healthcare,
including, but not limited to, medication management; and WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Human Services has released a business plan to reorganize the youth rehabilitation and treatment center model in Nebraska on a condensed timeline without consultation or input from the Legislature or stakeholders with experience and expertise in youth rehabilitation and treatment; and WHEREAS, the safety, quality of life, and right to a safe treatment environment for these youth is of the utmost concern to the Legislature and it
is clear the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Geneva has reached a critical point in its ability to care for the female youth entrusted to its care.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTH
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LR298 LR298
2020 2020
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA, SECOND SESSION:
1. That the Legislature hereby calls for the Executive Board of the Legislative Council to meet forthwith and appoint a special committee of the Legislature to be known as the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center Special Oversight Committee of the Legislature. The committee shall consist of
nine members of the Legislature appointed by the Executive Board. Members shall include three members of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature, one member of the Appropriations Committee of the Legislature, one member of the Education Committee of the Legislature, three members of the Judiciary Committee of the Legislature, and one at-large member of the Legislature. The committee shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from the membership of the committee. The Executive Board is hereby authorized to
provide the committee with a legal counsel, committee clerk, and other staff as
required by the committee from existing legislative staff. The Executive Board is also authorized to hire outside legal counsel, consultants, and investigators as required by the committee. The committee shall be an oversight committee and is hereby authorized to hold hearings, request and receive progress reports from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the youth rehabilitation and treatment centers, and issue subpoenas as deemed necessary by the committee.
2. The Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center Special Oversight Committee of the Legislature is hereby authorized to study the quality of care and related issues at the youth rehabilitation and treatment centers. The committee shall provide oversight of the administration and operations,
including funding, capacity, and staffing practices at the youth rehabilitation and treatment centers. The committee shall provide oversight for planning at
the youth rehabilitation and treatment centers. The committee shall utilize existing studies, reports, and legislation developed to address the current conditions. The committee shall not be limited to such studies, reports, or legislation. The committee shall issue a report with its findings and recommendations to the Legislature on or before December 15, 2020.
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