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(Omaha, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman joined Sen. Nancy Thompson of LaVista, Douglas County Attorney Stuart Dornan, Nebraska State Patrol Col. Bryan Tuma and advocates for the victims of sex crimes in celebrating Nebraska's strengthened laws against sexual assault and abuse during a ceremonial bill signing at the Omaha YWCA today for LB 713.
LB 713 removes the statute of limitations on the prosecution of first-degree and second-degree sexual assault, and it standardizes the evidence kit used by health care workers on victims, allowing for a faster, more uniform response to sex crimes. It also removes the statute of limitations for third-degree sex assault of minors 16 years old and younger.
"These are particularly heinous crimes that deserve swift and serious punishment," Gov. Heineman said. "The victims will never forget what they have endured, so why should the law allow time to affect how authorities pursue the perpetrators? It shouldn't."
Sen. Thompson said, "In many instances, sexual assault crimes may not be solved for a number of years. By lifting the statute of limitations, these criminals will not be able to escape prosecution. This is an important tool."
Elements of the bill were introduced on behalf of Attorney General Jon Bruning, the State Patrol and the Nebraska Health and Human Services System.
Bruning said, "This legislation harmonizes the way rape evidence is collected in Nebraska, which will ultimately help bring justice to the victims of these terrible crimes. I want to thank rape survivor Heidi Wilke for her incredible bravery and Sen. Thompson for her leadership on this issue."
Other important facets of LB 713 include the closing of a legal loophole that allowed some criminals to avoid registering as sex offenders and additional language allowing the State Patrol to share more data than is available publicly with state agencies making employment, volunteer, licensing and certification decisions, as well as releasing that information to select organizations that deal with children and the elderly.
The law also allows for sex assault kits to be administered without the authorization of law enforcement agencies. The law also requires the State Patrol to disclose level-two sex offenders to health care providers who serve children and vulnerable adults. Previously, public information was released on level-three offenders, deemed the highest risk to re-offend.
"It is extremely important that we equip state agencies and health care officials with the ability to better monitor and share information about sex offenders," Col. Tuma said. "By including these professional groups in this enhanced notification through the Patrol's Sex Offender Registry, they will be able to keep a closer watch on their organizations and communities."
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