Bill > LB329

This bill modifies Nebraska's law regarding sexual abuse by school employees by expanding the definition of who can be considered a "school employee" to include not just traditional employees but also school contract workers like school resource officers, construction workers, and independent contractors. The bill defines a school contract worker as someone 19 or older who works at a school but is not directly employed by that school. The legislation maintains existing provisions that criminalize sexual contact or penetration between a school employee and a student, emphasizing that student consent is not a valid legal defense. The bill establishes three degrees of sexual abuse by a school employee: first-degree (sexual penetration) is a Class IIA felony, second-degree (sexual contact) is a Class IIIA felony, and third-degree (pattern of conduct intended to subject a student to sexual penetration or contact) is a Class IV felony. The bill applies to students between 16 and 19 years old who are enrolled in or recently attended an approved or accredited public, private, denominational, or parochial school, and it aims to broaden protections for students by including a wider range of school-associated workers under potential criminal liability.

Justice

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59602