For purposes of sections 20-161 to 20-166, unless the context otherwise requires:

Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes 20-162

  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: shall include bodies politic and corporate, societies, communities, the public generally, individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and associations. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • State: when applied to different states of the United States shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories organized by Congress. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801

(1) Complaint shall mean any oral or written allegation by a person with a developmental disability or a mentally ill individual, the parent or guardian of such persons, a state agency, or any other responsible named individual or entity to the effect that the person with developmental disabilities or the mentally ill individual is being subjected to injury or deprivation with regard to his or her health, safety, welfare, rights, or level of care;

(2) Developmental disability shall mean a severe chronic mental or physical disability as defined in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6000 et seq., as amended;

(3) Facility for mentally ill individuals shall mean any place within Nebraska where a mentally ill individual is an inpatient or a resident and that is organized to provide treatment, shelter, food, care, or supervision including, but not limited to, those facilities described in the Health Care Facility Licensure Act and sections 71-1901 to 71-1916, 83-107.01, and 83-108 ;

(4) Facility for persons with developmental disabilities shall mean a facility or a specified portion of a facility designed primarily for the delivery of one or more services to persons with one or more developmental disabilities including, but not limited to, those facilities described in the Health Care Facility Licensure Act and sections 71-1901 to 71-1916, 83-107.01, and 83-108 whenever a person with a developmental disability is residing in such facility;

(5) Mentally ill individual shall mean an individual who has a significant mental illness or emotional impairment as determined by a mental health professional qualified under the laws, rules, and regulations of this state and who is an inpatient or resident in a facility for mentally ill individuals;

(6) Protection and advocacy system shall mean the entity designated pursuant to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6000 et seq., as amended;

(7) Records shall mean all information and data obtained, collected, or maintained by a facility for persons with developmental disabilities or a facility for mentally ill individuals in the course of providing services to such persons which are reasonably related to the complaint to be investigated; and

(8) Services for persons with developmental disabilities shall mean services as defined in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6000 et seq., as amended.