Require adult protective services social workers to accompany law enforcement officers
LB706 would create a new framework for Adult Protective Services (APS) social workers to work alongside law enforcement in Nebraska. The bill defines an APS social worker as a trained and department-approved social worker with crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, bias reduction, and cultural sensitivity training. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and approve training programs, require annual continuing education, and adopt rules to implement the program.
The bill also requires law enforcement dispatchers to screen calls for possible mental illness or mental health concerns using a checklist or questionnaire, flag those calls as a “Mental Health Priority,” and notify the nearest unit that can be accompanied by an APS social worker. When responding to such calls, officers would generally be accompanied by an APS social worker, who would take the lead in interacting with the individual and use de-escalation and trauma-informed techniques. In addition, each law enforcement agency would have to adopt written policies on dispatching APS social workers, and the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice would set minimum standards, review compliance, and report annually to the Governor and Legislature.
LB706 would amend Nebraska law governing law enforcement training, certification, and agency procedures by adding a new APS social worker response model and related oversight duties. It would expand the responsibilities of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, authorize rulemaking, create compliance reviews and reporting requirements, and establish administrative penalties for agencies that fail to comply. It would also affect law enforcement agencies, dispatch operations, and social workers by imposing new training, coordination, and policy obligations, while tying some commission-administered funding eligibility to compliance.
The bill’s stated purpose suggests a generally supportive policy approach centered on crisis response, mental health de-escalation, and trauma-informed policing. Even without recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the structure of the bill indicates an emphasis on collaboration between social workers and law enforcement rather than replacing police functions. The bill’s indefinite postponement suggests it did not advance, but the available record does not show direct opposition or support statements.
The main points of contention likely involve whether the state should mandate APS social worker accompaniment for law enforcement calls, the cost and administrative burden of training, staffing, and dispatch screening, and the extent of state oversight and penalties for noncompliance. Potential concerns may also include officer safety, local control over agency policies, and whether agencies have sufficient personnel and resources to meet the bill’s requirements. Supporters would likely focus on improved mental health outcomes, de-escalation, and better responses to individuals in crisis, while critics may question feasibility and funding.