LB 962 — Adopt the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act

ER183 ER183 LB962 LB962 TTB2026 -LEGISLATIVE 04/03/2026BILL TTB962 -Approved 04/03/2026by Ethe ANDGovernor RApril AMENDMENTS16, TO2026 LB 962   Introduced by Guereca,McKinney, 7,11. Chairman Enrollment and Review 1.

Strike  theA originalBILL sectionsFOR andAN allACT amendmentsrelating theretoto andpublic inserthealth theand followingwelfare; new sections:

Sectionto 1.adopt the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act;

Sectionsand 1 to 8provide ofan thisoperative actdate. shall be known and may be cited as the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act.

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, Section 1.

 Sections 1 to 8 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act.

For For purposes of the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act:

(a) Is developed collaboratively by a counselor employed by the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the State Department of Education, the youth, and a representative of a facility or the Office of Probation Administration, as appropriate;

and -1- ER183 ER183 LB962 LB962 TTB - 04/03/2026 TTB - 04/03/2026 (6) Youth means any individual under nineteen years of age who is exiting or transitioning from a congregate care placement, including at a facility or residential treatment program, or who is transitioning from probation supervision.

(1) (1) The purpose of the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act is to ensure youth in congregate care placements receive essential support for successful transition back into their homes and communities.

(1)(a) (1)(a) The Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Juvenile Services, the Office of Probation Administration, and the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the State Department of Education shall collaboratively establish the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Program.

These reviews shall be accomplished by a representative of the facility or the Office of Probation Administration, as appropriate, and shall occur weekly for -2- ER183 ER183 LB962 LB962 TTB - 04/03/2026 TTB - 04/03/2026 detention or other short-term placements and monthly for all other placements, including placement at a youth rehabilitation and treatment center;

When possible, development of the plan should include coordinating with local family resource centers, community-based providers, or other community resources in order to support the youth and the youth's family and identify long-long-term term supports.

(a) Treatment services, including continuity of behavioral health, -1- LB962 LB962 2026 medical, and medicaid services;

(b) Enrolling eligible youth in programs and services offered by the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the State Department of Education;

-3- ER183 ER183 LB962 LB962 TTB - 04/03/2026 TTB - 04/03/2026 (f) A housing stabilization strategy and safe placement;

and (j) Family engagement and restorative justice objectives consistent with reforms enacted in Laws 2025,2023, LB50.

(3) The Office of Probation Administration shall integrate transition planning into probation supervision and existing community-community-based based programs.

(4) The Division of Rehabilitation Services of the State Department of Education shall deliver vocational rehabilitation and employment services through existing federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity -4- ER183 ER183 LB962 LB962 TTB - 04/03/2026 TTB - 04/03/2026 Act and pre-employment transition services funding.funding or other existing federal funds.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Juvenile Services, the Office of Probation Administration, the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the State DepartmentBoard of Education, and the Department of Labor may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations that provide for:

2.-2-

On page 1, strike beginning with "public" in line 1 through line 3 and insert "public health and welfare;

to adopt the Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act;

and to provide an operative date.".

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