reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NE Code § 43-4330 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4330 - Inspector General; investigation of complaints; priority and selection.

43-4330.  Inspector General; investigation of complaints; priority and selection.The Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Act does not require the Inspector General to investigate all complaints. The Inspector General, with input from the Public Counsel, shall prioritize and select investigations and inquiries that further the intent of the act and assist in legislative oversight of the Nebraska child welfare system and juvenile justice system. If the Inspector General determines that he or she will not investigate a complaint, the Inspector General may recommend to the parties alternative means of resolution of the issues in the complaint.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 37;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 22.
NE Code § 43-4331 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4331 - Summary of reports and investigations; contents.

43-4331.  Summary of reports and investigations; contents.On or before September 15 of each year, the Inspector General shall provide to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature, the Judiciary Committee of the Legislature, the Supreme Court, and the Governor a summary of reports and investigations made under the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Act for the preceding year. The summary provided to the committees shall be provided electronically. The summaries shall detail recommendations and the status of implementation of recommendations and may also include recommendations to the committees regarding issues discovered through investigation, audits, inspections, and reviews by the office that will increase accountability and legislative oversight of the Nebraska child welfare system, improve operations of the department, the juvenile services division, the commission, and the Nebraska child welfare system, or deter and identify fraud, abuse, and illegal acts. Such summary shall include summaries of alternative response cases under alternative response implemented in accordance with sections 28-710.01, 28-712, and 28-712.01 reviewed by the Inspector General. The summaries shall not contain any confidential or identifying information concerning the subjects of the reports and investigations.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 38;  Laws 2013, LB222, § 12;  Laws 2014, LB853, § 29;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 23;  Laws 2020, LB1061, § 9.
NE Code § 43-4332 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4332 - Disclosure of information by employee; personnel actions prohibited.

43-4332.  Disclosure of information by employee; personnel actions prohibited.Any person who has authority to recommend, approve, direct, or otherwise take or affect personnel action shall not, with respect to such authority:(1) Take personnel action against an employee because of the disclosure of information by the employee to the office which the employee reasonably believes evidences wrongdoing under the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Act;(2) Take personnel action against an employee as a reprisal for the submission of an allegation of wrongdoing under the act to the office by such employee; or(3) Take personnel action against an employee as a reprisal for providing information or testimony pursuant to an investigation by the office.Source Laws 2017, LB207, § 7.
NE Code § 43-4401 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4401 - Terms, defined.

43-4401.  Terms, defined.For purposes of sections 43-4401 to 43-4409:(1) Department means the Department of Health and Human Services;(2) N-FOCUS system means the electronic data collection system in use by the department on April 12, 2012;(3) Pilot project means a case management lead agency model pilot project established by the department pursuant to Laws 2012, LB961; and(4) Service area means a geographic area administered by the department and designated pursuant to section 81-3116.Source Laws 2012, LB1160, § 1.
NE Code § 43-4402 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4402 - Legislative findings.

43-4402.  Legislative findings.The Legislature finds that:(1) Nebraska does not have the capacity to collect and analyze routinely and effectively the data required to inform policy decisions, child welfare service development, and evaluation of its child welfare system;(2) The N-FOCUS system is difficult to use and does not provide the appropriate data for meaningful monitoring of the child welfare system for children's safety, permanency, and wellness;(3) The N-FOCUS system does not easily integrate with other computer systems that have different purposes, capacities, file structures, and operating systems, resulting in silos of operation and information; and(4) The department needs leadership in developing a uniform electronic data collection system to collect and evaluate data regarding children served, the quality of child welfare services provided, and the outcomes produced by such child welfare services.Source Laws 2012, LB1160, § 2.
NE Code § 43-4403 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4403 - Legislative intent.

43-4403.  Legislative intent.It is the intent of the Legislature:(1) To provide for (a) legislative oversight of the child welfare system through an improved electronic data collection system, (b) improved child welfare outcome measurements through increased reporting by any lead agencies or the pilot project and the department, and (c) an independent evaluation of the child welfare system; and(2) To develop an electronic data collection system to integrate child welfare information into one system to more effectively manage, track, and share information, especially in child welfare case management.Source Laws 2012, LB1160, § 3.
NE Code § 43-4405 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4405 - Statewide automated child welfare information system; report; contents.

43-4405.  Statewide automated child welfare information system; report; contents.On or before December 1, 2012, the department, with assistance from other agencies as necessary, including the data coordinator for the State Foster Care Review Board or a successor entity to the powers and duties of the board, shall report in writing to the Legislature on a plan for the statewide automated child welfare information system described in section 43-4404. The report shall include a review of the design, development, implementation, and cost of the system. The report shall describe the requirements of the system and all available options and compare costs of the options. The report shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the options for (1) system functionality, (2) the potential of the system's use of shared services in areas including, but not limited to, intake, rules, financial information, and reporting, (3) integration, (4) maintenance costs, (5) application architecture to enable flexibility and scalability, (6) deployment costs, (7) licensing fees, (8) training requirements, and (9) operational costs and support needs. The report shall compare the costs and benefits of a custom-built system and a commercial off-the-shelf system, the total cost of ownership, including both direct and indirect costs, and the costs of any other options considered. In conjunction with the report, the department shall prepare the advance planning document required to qualify for federal funding for the statewide automated child welfare information system pursuant to 45 C.F.R. 1355.50 through 1355.57, implementing section 474(a)(3)(C) and (D) of Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 674(a)(3)(C) and (D), as such regulations and section existed on January 1, 2012. The advance planning document shall describe the proposed plan for managing the design, development, and operations of a statewide automated child welfare information system that meets such federal requirements and the state's needs in an efficient, comprehensive, and cost-effective manner.Source Laws 2012, LB1160, § 5.
NE Code § 43-4407 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4407 - Service area administrator; lead agency; pilot project; annual survey; duties; reports.

43-4407.  Service area administrator; lead agency; pilot project; annual survey; duties; reports.(1) Each service area administrator and any lead agency or the pilot project shall annually survey children, parents, foster parents, judges, guardians ad litem, attorneys representing parents, and service providers involved with the child welfare system to monitor satisfaction with (a) adequacy of communication by the case manager, (b) response by the department, any lead agency, or the pilot project to requests and problems, (c) transportation issues, (d) medical and psychological services for children and parents, (e) visitation schedules, (f) payments, (g) support services to foster parents, (h) adequacy of information about foster children provided to foster parents, and (i) the case manager's fulfillment of his or her responsibilities. A summary of the survey shall be reported electronically to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature on September 15, 2012, and each September 15 thereafter.(2) Each service area administrator and any lead agency or the pilot project shall provide monthly reports to the child advocacy center that corresponds with the geographic location of the child regarding the services provided through the department or a lead agency or the pilot project when the child is identified as a voluntary or non-court-involved child welfare case. The monthly report shall include the plan implemented by the department, the lead agency, or the pilot project for the child and family and the status of compliance by the family with the plan. The child advocacy center shall report electronically to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature on September 15, 2012, and every September 15 thereafter, or more frequently if requested by the committee.Source  Laws 2012, LB1160, § 7;  Laws 2013, LB222, § 14.
NE Code § 43-4408 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4408 - Department; reports; contents.

43-4408.  Department; reports; contents.On or before September 15, 2012, and on or before each September 15 thereafter, the department shall provide electronically a report to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature on the department's monitoring of any lead agencies or the pilot project, including the actions taken for contract management, financial management, revenue management, quality assurance and oversight, children's legal services, performance management, and communications. The report shall also include review of the functional capacities of each lead agency or the pilot project for (1) direct case management, (2) utilization of social work theory and evidence-based practices to include processes for insuring fidelity with evidence-based practices, (3) supervision, (4) quality assurance, (5) training, (6) subcontract management, (7) network development and management, (8) financial management, (9) financial controls, (10) utilization management, (11) community outreach, (12) coordination and planning, (13) community and stakeholder engagement, and (14) responsiveness to requests from policymakers and the Legislature. On or before December 31, 2012, the department shall provide an additional report to the committee updating the information on the pilot project contained in the report of September 15, 2012.Source  Laws 2012, LB1160, § 8;  Laws 2013, LB222, § 15.
NE Code § 43-4410 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4410 - Contract to provide child welfare services; evidence of financial stability and liquidity required; prohibited acts.

43-4410.  Contract to provide child welfare services; evidence of financial stability and liquidity required; prohibited acts.(1) Any entity seeking to enter into a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide child welfare services shall provide evidence of financial stability and liquidity prior to executing such contract.(2) An entity contracting with the department to provide child welfare services shall not require any subcontractor or employee of such contractor or subcontractor to sign an agreement not to compete with such contractor as a condition of subcontracting or employment.Source Laws 2013, LB269, § 10.
NE Code § 43-4501 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4501 - Act, how cited.

43-4501.  Act, how cited.Sections 43-4501 to 43-4514 shall be known and may be cited as the Young Adult Bridge to Independence Act.Source  Laws 2013, LB216, § 1;  Laws 2014, LB853, § 30;  Laws 2015, LB243, § 14.
NE Code § 43-4502 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4502 - Purpose of act.

43-4502.  Purpose of act.The purpose of the Young Adult Bridge to Independence Act is to support former state or tribal wards in transitioning to adulthood, becoming self-sufficient, and creating permanent relationships. The bridge to independence program shall at all times recognize and respect the autonomy of the young adult. Nothing in the Young Adult Bridge to Independence Act shall be construed to abrogate any other rights that a person who has attained eighteen or nineteen years of age may have as an adult under state or tribal law.Source  Laws 2013, LB216, § 2;  Laws 2014, LB853, § 31;  Laws 2020, LB848, § 3.   Operative Date: July 1, 2021
NE Code § 43-4503 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4503 - Terms, defined.

43-4503.  Terms, defined.For purposes of the Young Adult Bridge to Independence Act:(1) Age of eligibility means:(a) Nineteen years of age; or(b) Eighteen years of age if the young adult has attained the age of majority under tribal law;(2) Bridge to independence program means the extended services and support available to a young adult under the Young Adult Bridge to Independence Act other than extended guardianship assistance described in section 43-4511 and extended adoption assistance described in section 43-4512;(3) Child means an individual who has not attained twenty-one years of age;(4) Department means the Department of Health and Human Services;(5) Supervised independent living setting means an independent supervised setting, consistent with 42 U.S.C. 672(c). Supervised independent living settings shall include, but not be limited to, single or shared apartments, houses, host homes, college dormitories, or other postsecondary educational or vocational housing;(6) Voluntary services and support agreement means a voluntary placement agreement as defined in 42 U.S.C. 672(f) between the department and a young adult as his or her own guardian; and(7) Young adult means an individual who has attained the age of eligibility but who has not attained twenty-one years of age.Source  Laws 2013, LB216, § 3;  Laws 2014, LB853, § 32;  Laws 2015, LB243, § 15;  Laws 2020, LB848, § 4.   Operative Date: July 1, 2021
NE Code § 43-4504 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4504 - Bridge to independence program; availability.

43-4504.  Bridge to independence program; availability.The bridge to independence program is available, on a voluntary basis, to a young adult:(1) Who has attained the age of eligibility;(2) Who was adjudicated to be a juvenile described in subdivision (3)(a) of section 43-247 or the equivalent under tribal law or who was adjudicated to be a juvenile described in subdivision (8) of section 43-247 or the equivalent under tribal law if the young adult's guardianship or state-funded adoption assistance agreement was disrupted or terminated after he or she had attained the age of sixteen years and (a) who, upon attaining the age of eligibility, was in an out-of-home placement or had been discharged to independent living or (b) with respect to whom a kinship guardianship assistance agreement or an adoption assistance agreement was in effect pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 673 if the young adult had attained sixteen years of age before the agreement became effective or with respect to whom a state-funded guardianship assistance agreement or a state-funded adoption assistance agreement was in effect if the young adult had attained sixteen years of age before the agreement became effective;(3) Who is:(a) Completing secondary education or an educational program leading to an equivalent credential;(b) Enrolled in an institution which provides postsecondary or vocational education;(c) Employed for at least eighty hours per month;(d) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment; or(e) Incapable of doing any of the activities described in subdivisions (3)(a) through (d) of this section due to a medical condition, which incapacity is supported by regularly updated information in the case plan of the young adult;(4) Who is a Nebraska resident, except that this requirement shall not disqualify a young adult who was a Nebraska resident but was placed outside Nebraska pursuant to the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children; and(5) Who does not meet the level of care for a nursing facility as defined in section 71-424, for a skilled nursing facility as defined in section 71-429, or for an intermediate care facility for persons with developmental disabilities as defined in section 71-421.The changes made to subdivision (2)(b) of this section by Laws 2015, LB243, become operative on July 1, 2015.Source  Laws 2013, LB216, § 4;  Laws 2014, LB853, § 33;  Laws 2015, LB243, § 16;  Laws 2019, LB600, § 11;  Laws 2020, LB848, § 5.   Operative Date: July 1, 2021  Cross References  Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, see section 43-1103.
NE Code § 43-4506 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4506 - Participation in bridge to independence program; voluntary services and support agreement; contents; services provided; independence coordinator; department; duties.

43-4506.  Participation in bridge to independence program; voluntary services and support agreement; contents; services provided; independence coordinator; department; duties.(1) If a young adult chooses to participate in the bridge to independence program and is eligible under section 43-4504, the young adult and the department shall sign, and the young adult shall be provided a copy of, a voluntary services and support agreement that includes, at a minimum, information regarding all of the following:(a) The requirement that the young adult continue to be eligible under section 43-4504 for the duration of the voluntary services and support agreement and any other expectations of the young adult;(b) The services and support the young adult shall receive through the bridge to independence program;(c) The voluntary nature of the young adult's participation and the young adult's right to terminate the voluntary services and support agreement at any time; and(d) Conditions that may result in the termination of the voluntary services and support agreement and the young adult's early discharge from the bridge to independence program as described in section 43-4507.(2) As soon as the young adult and the department sign the voluntary services and support agreement and the department determines that the young adult is eligible for the bridge to independence program under section 43-4504, but not longer than fifteen days after signing the agreement, the department shall provide services and support to the young adult in accordance with the voluntary services and support agreement.(3) A young adult participating in the bridge to independence program shall be assigned an independence coordinator to provide case management services for the young adult. Independence coordinators and their supervisors shall be specialized in primarily providing services for young adults in the bridge to independence program or shall, at minimum, have specialized training in providing transition services and support to young adults.(4) The department shall provide continued efforts at achieving permanency and creating permanent connections for a young adult participating in the bridge to independence program.(5) The department shall fulfill all case plan obligations consistent with 42 U.S.C. 675(1).(6) As soon as possible after the young adult is determined eligible for the bridge to independence program under section 43-4504 and signs the voluntary services and support agreement, the department shall conduct a determination of income eligibility for purposes of Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 672.Source  Laws 2013, LB216, § 6;  Laws 2014, LB853, § 35;  Laws 2015, LB243, § 18.
NE Code § 43-4508.01 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4508.01 - Permanency review or case review; independence coordinator; duties.

43-4508.01.  Permanency review or case review; independence coordinator; duties.At least thirty days prior to each permanency review or case review, the independence coordinator shall meet with the young adult to notify the young adult of the date, time, and location of the review, to explain the purpose of the review, and to identify additional persons the young adult would like to attend the review and assist in making arrangements for their attendance.Source Laws 2014, LB853, § 38.
NE Code § 43-4509 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4509 - Department; periodic case reviews; written notice; contents.

43-4509.  Department; periodic case reviews; written notice; contents.(1) The department and at least one person who is not responsible for case management, in collaboration with the young adult and additional persons identified by the young adult, shall conduct periodic case reviews consistent with 42 U.S.C. 675(5)(B) not less than once every one hundred eighty days to evaluate progress made toward meeting the goals set forth in the case plan. The department is not required to have legal counsel present at such reviews. The department shall utilize a team approach in conducting such reviews and shall seek to facilitate the participation of the young adult. Reviews shall be conducted in an informal manner and, whenever possible, scheduled at times that allow for the attendance and participation of the young adult.(2) At the end of each case review, the reviewer conducting the periodic case review shall notify the young adult of his or her right to request a client-directed attorney and an additional permanency review and shall provide the young adult with a clear and developmentally appropriate written notice regarding the young adult's right to request a client-directed attorney, the benefits and role of such attorney, the specific steps to take to request that an attorney be appointed, the young adult's right to request an additional permanency review hearing, the potential benefits and purpose of such a hearing, and the specific steps to take to request an additional permanency review hearing.Source  Laws 2013, LB216, § 9;  Laws 2014, LB853, § 39.