Bill > LB1040

This bill amends the Nebraska Mental Health Commitment Act to broaden the definition of a "mentally ill and dangerous person" to include those who pose a substantial and immediate risk of causing significant damage to another's property, and it allows "interested parties" – defined as a spouse, parent, sibling, adult child, close adult friend, guardian, conservator, or anyone acting in the individual's best interest – to file petitions for civil commitment, not just county attorneys. The bill also clarifies that a "petitioner" can be either the county attorney or an interested party, and it introduces a penalty, a Class IV felony, for filing a petition in bad faith or for an improper purpose, with mental health boards required to refer such cases to the county attorney for prosecution. Additionally, the bill modifies provisions related to inpatient commitment by emphasizing that treatment orders should impose the least possible restraint on an individual's liberty, considering recommendations from treatment providers, and it ensures that victims of certain covered offenses are notified if the convicted person becomes the subject of a mental health commitment petition.

Justice

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63309