reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NE Code § 43-4302 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4302 - Legislative intent.

43-4302.  Legislative intent.(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to:(a) Establish a full-time program of investigation and performance review to provide increased accountability and oversight of the Nebraska child welfare system;(b) Assist in improving operations of the Nebraska child welfare system;(c) Provide an independent form of inquiry for concerns regarding the actions of individuals and agencies responsible for the care and protection of children and youth in the Nebraska child welfare system. Confusion of the roles, responsibilities, and accountability structures between individuals, private contractors, branches of government, and agencies in the current system make it difficult to monitor and oversee the Nebraska child welfare system; and(d) Provide a process for investigation and review to determine if individual complaints and issues of investigation and inquiry reveal a problem in the child welfare system, not just individual cases, that necessitates legislative action for improved policies and restructuring of the child welfare system.(2) It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Act to interfere with the duties of the Legislative Auditor or the Legislative Fiscal Analyst or to interfere with the statutorily defined investigative responsibilities or prerogatives of any officer, agency, board, bureau, commission, association, society, or institution of the executive branch of state government, except that the act does not preclude an inquiry on the sole basis that another agency has the same responsibility. The act shall not be construed to interfere with or supplant the responsibilities or prerogatives of the Governor to investigate, monitor, and report on the activities of the agencies, boards, bureaus, commissions, associations, societies, and institutions of the executive branch under his or her administrative direction.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 9;  Laws 2013, LB39, § 1;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 5.
NE Code § 43-4303 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4303 - Definitions; where found.

43-4303.  Definitions; where found.For purposes of the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Act, the definitions found in sections 43-4304 to 43-4316 apply.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 10;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 6.
NE Code § 43-4304 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4304 - Administrator, defined.

43-4304.  Administrator, defined.Administrator means a person charged with administration of a program, an office, or a division of the department or administration of a private agency or licensed child care facility, the probation administrator, or the executive director.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 11;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 7.
NE Code § 43-4304.01 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4304.01 - Child welfare system, defined.

43-4304.01.  Child welfare system, defined.Child welfare system means public and private agencies and parties that provide or effect services or supervision to system-involved children and their families.Source Laws 2015, LB347, § 8.
NE Code § 43-4304.02 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4304.02 - Commission, defined.

43-4304.02.  Commission, defined.Commission means the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.Source Laws 2015, LB347, § 9.
NE Code § 43-4305 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4305 - Department, defined.

43-4305.  Department, defined.Department means the Department of Health and Human Services.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 12.
NE Code § 43-4306 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4306 - Director, defined.

43-4306.  Director, defined.Director means the chief executive officer of the department.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 13.
NE Code § 43-4306.01 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4306.01 - Executive director, defined.

43-4306.01.  Executive director, defined.Executive director means the executive director of the commission.Source Laws 2015, LB347, § 10.
NE Code § 43-4307 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4307 - Inspector General, defined.

43-4307.  Inspector General, defined.Inspector General means the Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare appointed under section 43-4317.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 14.
NE Code § 43-4307.01 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4307.01 - Juvenile services division, defined.

43-4307.01.  Juvenile services division, defined.Juvenile services division means the Juvenile Services Division of the Office of Probation Administration.Source Laws 2015, LB347, § 11.
NE Code § 43-4308 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4308 - Licensed child care facility, defined.

43-4308.  Licensed child care facility, defined.Licensed child care facility means a facility or program licensed under the Child Care Licensing Act, the Children's Residential Facilities and Placing Licensure Act, or sections 71-1901 to 71-1906.01.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 15;  Laws 2013, LB265, § 36. Cross References   Child Care Licensing Act, see section 71-1908.  Children's Residential Facilities and Placing Licensure Act, see section 71-1924.
NE Code § 43-4309 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4309 - Malfeasance, defined.

43-4309.  Malfeasance, defined.Malfeasance means a wrongful act that the actor has no legal right to do or any wrongful conduct that affects, interrupts, or interferes with performance of an official duty.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 16.
NE Code § 43-4310 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4310 - Management, defined.

43-4310.  Management, defined.Management means supervision of subordinate employees.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 17.
NE Code § 43-4311 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4311 - Misfeasance, defined.

43-4311.  Misfeasance, defined.Misfeasance means the improper performance of some act that a person may lawfully do.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 18.
NE Code § 43-4312 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4312 - Obstruction, defined.

43-4312.  Obstruction, defined.Obstruction means hindering an investigation, preventing an investigation from progressing, stopping or delaying the progress of an investigation, or making the progress of an investigation difficult or slow.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 19.
NE Code § 43-4313 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4313 - Office, defined.

43-4313.  Office, defined.Office means the office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare and includes the Inspector General and other employees of the office.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 20.
NE Code § 43-4314 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4314 - Private agency, defined.

43-4314.  Private agency, defined.Private agency means a child welfare agency that contracts with the department or the Office of Probation Administration or contracts to provide services to another child welfare agency that contracts with the department or the Office of Probation Administration.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 21;  Laws 2013, LB561, § 57.
NE Code § 43-4315 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4315 - Record, defined.

43-4315.  Record, defined.Record means any recording, in written, audio, electronic transmission, or computer storage form, including, but not limited to, a draft, memorandum, note, report, computer printout, notation, or message, and includes, but is not limited to, medical records, mental health records, case files, clinical records, financial records, and administrative records.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 22.
NE Code § 43-4316 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4316 - Responsible individual, defined.

43-4316.  Responsible individual, defined.Responsible individual means a foster parent, a relative provider of foster care, or an employee of the department, the juvenile services division, the commission, a foster home, a private agency, a licensed child care facility, or another provider of child welfare programs and services responsible for the care or custody of records, documents, and files.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 23;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 12.
NE Code § 43-4317 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4317 - Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare; created; purpose; Inspector General; appointment; term; certification; employees; removal.

43-4317.  Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare; created; purpose; Inspector General; appointment; term; certification; employees; removal.(1) The office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare is created within the office of Public Counsel for the purpose of conducting investigations, audits, inspections, and other reviews of the Nebraska child welfare system. The Inspector General shall be appointed by the Public Counsel with approval from the chairperson of the Executive Board of the Legislative Council and the chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature.(2) The Inspector General shall be appointed for a term of five years and may be reappointed. The Inspector General shall be selected without regard to political affiliation and on the basis of integrity, capability for strong leadership, and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, investigation, or criminal justice administration or other closely related fields. No former or current executive or manager of the department may be appointed Inspector General within five years after such former or current executive's or manager's period of service with the department. Not later than two years after the date of appointment, the Inspector General shall obtain certification as a Certified Inspector General by the Association of Inspectors General, its successor, or another nationally recognized organization that provides and sponsors educational programs and establishes professional qualifications, certifications, and licensing for inspectors general. During his or her employment, the Inspector General shall not be actively involved in partisan affairs.(3) The Inspector General shall employ such investigators and support staff as he or she deems necessary to carry out the duties of the office within the amount available by appropriation through the office of Public Counsel for the office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare. The Inspector General shall be subject to the control and supervision of the Public Counsel, except that removal of the Inspector General shall require approval of the chairperson of the Executive Board of the Legislative Council and the chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 24.
NE Code § 43-4319 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4319 - Office; access to information and personnel; investigation; procedure.

43-4319.  Office; access to information and personnel; investigation; procedure.(1) The office shall have access to all information and personnel necessary to perform the duties of the office.(2) A full investigation conducted by the office shall consist of retrieval of relevant records through subpoena, request, or voluntary production, review of all relevant records, and interviews of all relevant persons.(3) For a request for confidential record information pursuant to subsection (5) of section 43-2,108 involving death or serious injury, the office may submit a written request to the probation administrator. The record information shall be provided to the office within five days.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 26;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 14;  Laws 2016, LB954, § 4.
NE Code § 43-4320 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4320 - Complaints to office; form; full investigation; when; notice.

43-4320.  Complaints to office; form; full investigation; when; notice.(1) Complaints to the office may be made in writing. The office shall also maintain a toll-free telephone line for complaints. A complaint shall be evaluated to determine if it alleges possible misconduct, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violation of a statute or of rules and regulations pursuant to section 43-4318. All complaints shall be evaluated to determine whether a full investigation is warranted.(2) The office shall not conduct a full investigation of a complaint unless:(a) The complaint alleges misconduct, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violation of a statute or of rules and regulations pursuant to section 43-4318;(b) The complaint is against a person within the jurisdiction of the office; and(c) The allegations can be independently verified through investigation.(3) The Inspector General shall determine within fourteen days after receipt of a complaint whether it will conduct a full investigation. A complaint alleging facts which, if verified, would provide a basis for discipline under the Uniform Credentialing Act shall be referred to the appropriate credentialing board under the act.(4) When a full investigation is opened on a private agency that contracts with the Office of Probation Administration, the Inspector General shall give notice of such investigation to the Office of Probation Administration.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 27;  Laws 2013, LB561, § 59;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 15.  Cross References  Uniform Credentialing Act, see section 38-101.
NE Code § 43-4321 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4321 - Cooperation with office; when required.

43-4321.  Cooperation with office; when required.All employees of the department, the juvenile services division as directed by the juvenile court or the Office of Probation Administration, or the commission, all foster parents, and all owners, operators, managers, supervisors, and employees of private agencies, licensed child care facilities, juvenile detention facilities, staff secure juvenile facilities, and other providers of child welfare services or juvenile justice services shall cooperate with the office. Cooperation includes, but is not limited to, the following:(1) Provision of full access to and production of records and information. Providing access to and producing records and information for the office is not a violation of confidentiality provisions under any law, statute, rule, or regulation if done in good faith for purposes of an investigation under the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Act;(2) Fair and honest disclosure of records and information reasonably requested by the office in the course of an investigation under the act;(3) Encouraging employees to fully comply with reasonable requests of the office in the course of an investigation under the act;(4) Prohibition of retaliation by owners, operators, or managers against employees for providing records or information or filing or otherwise making a complaint to the office;(5) Not requiring employees to gain supervisory approval prior to filing a complaint with or providing records or information to the office;(6) Provision of complete and truthful answers to questions posed by the office in the course of an investigation; and(7) Not willfully interfering with or obstructing the investigation.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 28;  Laws 2013, LB561, § 60;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 16;  Laws 2016, LB954, § 5.
NE Code § 43-4322 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4322 - Failure to cooperate; effect.

43-4322.  Failure to cooperate; effect.Failure to cooperate with an investigation by the office may result in discipline or other sanctions.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 29.
NE Code § 43-4323 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4323 - Inspector General; powers; rights of person required to provide information.

43-4323.  Inspector General; powers; rights of person required to provide information.The Inspector General may issue a subpoena, enforceable by action in an appropriate court, to compel any person to appear, give sworn testimony, or produce documentary or other evidence deemed relevant to a matter under his or her inquiry. A person thus required to provide information shall be paid the same fees and travel allowances and shall be accorded the same privileges and immunities as are extended to witnesses in the district courts of this state and shall also be entitled to have counsel present while being questioned. Any fees associated with counsel present under this section shall not be the responsibility of the office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 30;  Laws 2017, LB207, § 3.
NE Code § 43-4325 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4325 - Reports of investigations; distribution; redact confidential information; powers of office; summarized final report; release.

43-4325.  Reports of investigations; distribution; redact confidential information; powers of office; summarized final report; release.(1) Reports of investigations conducted by the office shall not be distributed beyond the entity that is the subject of the report without the consent of the Inspector General.(2) Except when a report is provided to a guardian ad litem or an attorney in the juvenile court pursuant to subsection (2) of section 43-4327, the office shall redact confidential information before distributing a report of an investigation. The office may disclose confidential information to the chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature or the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee of the Legislature when such disclosure is, in the judgment of the Public Counsel, desirable to keep the chairperson informed of important events, issues, and developments in the Nebraska child welfare system.(3)(a) A summarized final report based on an investigation may be publicly released in order to bring awareness to systemic issues.(b) Such report shall be released only:(i) After a disclosure is made to the appropriate chairperson or chairpersons pursuant to subsection (2) of this section; and(ii) If a determination is made by the Inspector General with the appropriate chairperson that doing so would be in the best interest of the public.(c) If there is disagreement about whether releasing the report would be in the best interest of the public, the chairperson of the Executive Board of the Legislative Council may be asked to make the final decision.(4) Records and documents, regardless of physical form, that are obtained or produced by the office in the course of an investigation are not public records for purposes of sections 84-712 to 84-712.09. Reports of investigations conducted by the office are not public records for purposes of sections 84-712 to 84-712.09.(5) The office may withhold the identity of sources of information to protect from retaliation any person who files a complaint or provides information in good faith pursuant to the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Act.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 32;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 18;  Laws 2017, LB207, § 4.
NE Code § 43-4326 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4326 - Department; commission; juvenile services division; provide direct computer access.

43-4326.  Department; commission; juvenile services division; provide direct computer access.(1) The department shall provide the Public Counsel and the Inspector General with direct computer access to all computerized records, reports, and documents maintained by the department in connection with administration of the Nebraska child welfare system.(2) The commission shall provide the Inspector General with direct computer access to all computerized records, reports, and documents maintained in connection with administration of juvenile justice services.(3) The juvenile services division, as directed by the juvenile court or the Office of Probation Administration, shall provide the Inspector General with direct computer access to all computerized records, reports, and documents maintained by the juvenile services division in connection with a specific case under investigation.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 33;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 19;  Laws 2016, LB954, § 7.
NE Code § 43-4327 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4327 - Inspector General's report of investigation; contents; distribution.

43-4327.  Inspector General's report of investigation; contents; distribution.(1) The Inspector General's report of an investigation shall be in writing to the Public Counsel and shall contain recommendations. The report may recommend systemic reform or case-specific action, including a recommendation for discharge or discipline of employees or for sanctions against a foster parent, private agency, licensed child care facility, or other provider of child welfare services or juvenile justice services. All recommendations to pursue discipline shall be in writing and signed by the Inspector General. A report of an investigation shall be presented to the director, the probation administrator, or the executive director within fifteen days after the report is presented to the Public Counsel.(2) Any person receiving a report under this section shall not further distribute the report or any confidential information contained in the report beyond the entity that is the subject of the report. The Inspector General, upon notifying the Public Counsel and the director, the probation administrator, or the executive director, may distribute the report, to the extent that it is relevant to a child's welfare, to the guardian ad litem and attorneys in the juvenile court in which a case is pending involving the child or family who is the subject of the report. The report shall not be distributed beyond the parties except through the appropriate court procedures to the judge.(3) A report that identifies misconduct, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violation of statute, rules, or regulations by an employee of the department, the juvenile services division, the commission, a private agency, a licensed child care facility, or another provider that is relevant to providing appropriate supervision of an employee may be shared with the employer of such employee. The employer may not further distribute the report or any confidential information contained in the report.Source  Laws 2012, LB821, § 34;  Laws 2015, LB347, § 20;  Laws 2017, LB207, § 5.
NE Code § 43-4329 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 43 - Infants and Juveniles|43-4329 - Report or work product; no court review.

43-4329.  Report or work product; no court review.No report or other work product of an investigation by the Inspector General shall be reviewable in any court. Neither the Inspector General nor any member of his or her staff shall be required to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding concerning matters within his or her official cognizance except in a proceeding brought to enforce the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Act.Source Laws 2012, LB821, § 36.