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LB1013

Rules for Youth Treatment Centers in Nebraska

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:18 AM

In one sentence

This bill sets rules requiring the Kearney youth center to treat only one gender at a time and the Geneva center to treat girls only, with an exception allowing both genders during emergencies.

What it does

  • Lists official names for state institutions under the Department of Health and Human Services, including Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Kearney and Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Geneva.
  • Requires that while operating, the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Kearney must be a single-sex treatment center used for boys or girls but not both at the same time.
  • Requires that while operating, the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Geneva must be used only for treating girls.
  • Allows centers to house juveniles of both genders for up to seven days during an emergency if safe gender separation is maintained.
  • Defines emergencies as public health crises or situations involving fire, flood, tornado, natural disaster, or building damage that makes a center uninhabitable.

Who it affects

  • The Department of Health and Human Services
  • Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Kearney
  • Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Geneva
  • Juveniles receiving inpatient or behavioral health treatment

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill states that inadequate staffing is not considered an emergency.
  • This legislation was indefinitely postponed on April 17, 2026.

Plain language

Terms to know

Single-sex treatment center
A facility that treats only boys or only girls, but not both at the same time.
Emergency
Events like public health crises, fires, floods, tornadoes, natural disasters, or building damage. It does not include a lack of staff.

Official record

Sources

Source attached

Official summary

Change and eliminate provisions relating to names of state institutions and requirements relating to gender at youth rehabilitation and treatment centers

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Indefinitely postponed