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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 996
Introduced by Rountree, 3.
Read first time January 13, 2026
Committee: Judiciary
A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to juvenile justice; to amend section 43-431,1
Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, and section 43-2,129,2
Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025; to prohibit the use of shackling3
on juveniles as prescribed; to define a term; to change provisions4
relating to policies and procedures regarding the transportation of5
juveniles; to harmonize provisions; and to repeal the original6
sections. 7
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,8
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Section 1. (1) Except as provided in this section, a person shall1
not restrain a juvenile using shackling. 2
(2) A person who is authorized by law to restrain a juvenile may use3
shackling to restrain such juvenile only if: 4
(a) The juvenile presents a substantial risk of inflicting physical5
harm on himself or herself or others as evidenced by recent behavior;6
(b) No less restrictive alternative will prevent such risk of harm;7
and 8
(c) The use of shackling is limited to the duration strictly9
necessary to prevent the risk of such harm. 10
(3) This section does not apply to the use of restraints under11
section 43-251.03. 12
(4) For purposes of this section: 13
(a) Shackling means the use of any mechanical restraint, including14
handcuffs, leg irons, waist chains, belly chains, ankle restraints, a15
restraint chair, or any combination of such devices, that restricts the16
movement of a juvenile's arms, hands, legs, waist, or torso; and17
(b) Shackling does not include the brief, temporary use of handcuffs18
solely to address an immediate and articulable safety risk if such19
handcuffs are removed as soon as such risk has passed.20
Sec. 2. Section 43-2,129, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, is21
amended to read: 22
43-2,129 Sections 43-245 to 43-2,129 and section 1 of this act shall23
be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Juvenile Code.24
Sec. 3. Section 43-431, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,25
2024, is amended to read: 26
43-431 Policies and procedures of the Department of Health and Human27
Services regarding the transportation of juveniles placed at the youth28
rehabilitation and treatment centers shall apply to any private29
contractor utilized by the Office of Juvenile Services to transport30
juveniles placed at the youth rehabilitation and treatment centers. Such31
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policies and procedures shall prohibit the use of shackling in violation1
of section 1 of this act and shall prohibit the routine use of any2
mechanical restraint on juveniles during transportation. Any exception3
shall be narrowly limited, documented in writing, and subject to review.4
Sec. 4. Original section 43-431, Revised Statutes Cumulative5
Supplement, 2024, and section 43-2,129, Revised Statutes Supplement,6
2025, are repealed. 7
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