A bill aimed at strengthening Nebraska’s protection order laws received first-round approval from lawmakers on Monday. Syracuse Sen. Bob Hallstrom introduce LB80, which would consolidate existing state laws regarding protective orders for domestic abuse, sexual assault and harassment into a single Protection Orders Act.
Under the bill, protection orders could be issued initially for one or two years, depending on the evidence presented and the court’s discretion, and would be renewable. In addition, the measure would require that certified copies of the protection order be provided at no cost to petitioners and law enforcement. LB80 also would allow petitioners to request that the courts keep their contact information confidential.
The measure would provide that violation of a domestic abuse or sexual assault protection order is a Class I misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class IV felony for the second offense. Violation of a harassment protection order would be a Class II misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class I misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.
Hallstrom says protection orders, which are court-issued directives intended to protect individuals from abuse and harassment, are critical in providing safety for survivors and allowing them to rebuild their lives.
“No law can prevent every tragedy, but we must do everything in our power to protect vulnerable individuals and save lives,” Hallstrom says. “Where we can improve policy, we should, as it’s our duty to ensure that laws are as effective as possible in providing protection and support to victims.”
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