ONE HUNDRED NINTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION - 2025
COMMITTEE STATEMENT
LB454
Hearing Date: Friday February 28, 2025
Committee On: Health and Human Services
Introducer: Quick
One Liner: Change provisions relating to regional behavioral health authorities and the Behavioral Health
Services Fund and provide for a pilot project
Roll Call Vote - Final Committee Action:
Advanced to General File with amendment(s)
Vote Results:
Aye: 7 Senators Hardin, Ballard, Fredrickson, Hansen, Meyer, Quick, Riepe
Nay:
Absent:
Present Not Voting:
Testimony:
Proponents: Representing:
Senator Dan Quick Opening Presenter
Dr. Thomas Janousek NE Department of Health and Human Services
Tiffany Gressley Region 3 Behavioral Health Services
Chase Francl Mid Plains Center for Behavioral Health Services
Patrick Kriefels Region 5 Systems
Annette Dubas NE Association of Behavioral Health Organizations
NABHO
Opponents: Representing:
Neutral: Representing:
* ADA Accommodation Written Testimony
Summary of purpose and/or changes:
LB 454 changes the restrictions to the currently required competitive bidding process used for behavioral health
services. A pilot project may be conducted. Also, the Behavioral Health Services Fund is expanded to housing
assistance for low-income individuals with substance abuse disorder.
Sec. 1: A provider may provide an existing service approved by DHHS and may contract with regional behavioral
health authority if the currently enrolled provider meets the required standards, as such standards existed on January
1, 2025. The consideration shall be made on a per-service basis.
A pilot project may be conducted for a period of no more than one year with DHHS approval. A pilot project shall not
Committee Statement: LB454
Health and Human Services Committee
Page 1 2156123203420f8a08d2bccc68ebf94b be used for existing services approved by DHHS. A pilot project shall have outcomes approved by the regional
behavioral health authority. A successful pilot project may become a full service.
Allows the providing of behavioral health services with no competitive bidding if authorized by the new subsections
(pilot program, meets required standards).
Each regional behavioral health authority is now required to comply with all rules and regulations that establish
uniform and equitable procedures instead of equitable “public bidding” procedures (public bidding is stricken).
Sec. 2: Allows money transferred to the Behavioral Health Services Fund to be used for housing for low-income
adults with substance abuse disorder as well as serious mental illness.
Sec. 3: Repealer
Explanation of amendments:
AM 547 replaces Subsection 5 of Section 1 of the original bill with new language. The new language allows a
provider engaged in providing services to provide new as well as existing services approved by DHHS and allows
them to contract with a regional behavioral health authority if the enrolled provider meets the required standards. This
consideration shall be made on a per-service basis.
AM 547 removes Subsection 6 of Section 1 which allowed the pilot project to be conducted one year with DHHS
approval, prohibited the pilot project from being used for existing services, required outcomes approved by the
regional behavioral health authority and allowed a successful pilot project to become a full service.
Brian Hardin, Chairperson
Committee Statement: LB454
Health and Human Services Committee
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