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LB 48

Establish a Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Center Pilot Program

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Terrell McKinney

Two 24/7 Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Centers launch a five-year pilot to prevent youth justice involvement, funded up to $500k/year from Medicaid Excess Profit Fund.

Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
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Bill Summary · LB 48

Summary — LB 48 (2025)

Establish a Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Center Pilot Program

Status: Approved by the Governor June 4, 2025 (final bill passed May 30, 2025).
Introduced: January 9, 2025. Sponsor: Senator Terrell McKinney.

Purpose / Intent

LB 48 creates a five‑year pilot to develop community‑based Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Centers in Nebraska metropolitan‑class cities. The centers are intended to provide culturally relevant, trauma‑informed assessment, supports, and interventions to prevent youth from entering or escalating within the juvenile justice system and to strengthen families and communities.

Key provisions

  • Pilot structure and duration

    • DHHS will establish the pilot in metropolitan‑class cities and develop it with local grassroots organizations and advisors. The pilot terminates five years after the bill’s operative date.
    • Centers must operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • Designation and selection

    • DHHS will create a designation process. Applicants must submit a comprehensive self‑assessment (based on the National Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening and Support or similar), an application, and undergo site visits and staff interviews.
    • Two centers will be designated for the pilot.

  • Required services and operations

    • Designated centers must host multiple community providers and embedded community navigators, provide free assessments and services to families, and maintain membership in the National Assessment Center Association.
    • Core services include parenting support, youth counseling, tutoring, mentoring (including individuals with lived justice system experience), conflict resolution/anger management, mental health and substance‑use services, cognitive behavioral therapy, job‑readiness and financial literacy, vocational/apprenticeship partnerships, and basic needs assistance (food/clothing/resource navigation).
    • Centers must employ culturally competent, trauma‑informed staff, create youth advisory councils and parent advisory boards, run outreach activities, and offer post‑service follow‑up (alumni mentoring, periodic check‑ins).

  • Data, evaluation, and quality

    • Each center must implement data collection to track outcomes and refine services.
    • DHHS will conduct an annual evaluation of the pilot’s effects on youth/family well‑being, community trust, and juvenile justice involvement.

  • Funding

    • Subject to available funds, each designated center may receive up to $500,000 per year from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund. If those funds are unavailable, no General Funds may be used for the centers.
    • Administrative costs are capped at 10% of appropriated funds, with a statutory dollar cap (final adopted language capped administration at up to $50,000 per year).

Who is affected

  • Primary: youth and families at risk of juvenile justice involvement in Nebraska metropolitan areas.
  • Implementers: Department of Health and Human Services, designated community organizations and providers, grassroots partners, and local businesses participating in vocational/mentorship partnerships.
  • Fiscal: the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund (subject to available balances); state budget impacts depend on fund availability and program uptake.

Timeline / Procedure

  • Hearing: March 12, 2025 (Health & Human Services Committee).
  • Key amendments adopted during consideration included reducing the number of centers (to two), specifying funding source and caps, and refining designation language.
  • Passed final legislative reading May 30, 2025 (emergency clause stricken). Presented to Governor May 30; approved June 4, 2025.
  • Operative date: as provided in the bill text (see enacted version for the exact operative date and start of the five‑year pilot).

For implementation details (designation criteria, application process, reporting deadlines, and exact operative date), refer to the Department of Health and Human Services guidance and the enacted bill text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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