Interim study to examine the ability of the State of Nebraska to draw down Title IV-E funds for purposes of pre-petition legal services for parent and child legal representation as permitted under federal law

This resolution (LR 187) proposes an interim study to determine whether Nebraska can access existing federal Title IV-E funds - typically used for child welfare services - for pre-petition legal representation. The study would examine how using these funds for legal help before child welfare cases begin would benefit families, the government structure needed to manage the funds, and whether state laws require changes to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to handle this. It does not create new funding or laws but seeks to assess the feasibility of utilizing current federal resources for legal services. The Judiciary Committee will conduct the study and report findings to the Legislature.