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Uniform Health Care Decisions Act introduced; sponsor seeks more stakeholder work over interim
Summary
Sen. Wendy DeBoer introduced LB66, the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act, to clarify agent appointment and advance directives; the sponsor and opponents said they will continue work during the interim and do not expect to move the bill this year.
Sen. Wendy DeBoer introduced LB66, the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act, to establish a statutory framework allowing individuals to appoint agents to make health‑care decisions, to provide a standard form for advance directives and to give limited immunity to health‑care professionals and agents acting under the statute.
DeBoer told the Judiciary Committee the bill is intended to simplify decision-making when individuals become incapacitated and to provide certainty to practitioners about the pecking order for decision-makers. She said the current draft incorporates changes from AM 52 and that the Uniform Law Commission and other stakeholders have reviewed earlier drafts; however, several proponents and opponents were unable to attend because of weather.
Testimony present in the hearing reflected support for further work rather than final endorsement: a speaker representing legal stakeholders thanked the sponsor, said bar and Uniform Law Commission representatives remain engaged, and described ongoing consultations with legal and medical experts. The sponsor said she does not intend to move the bill this session and asked to continue negotiations over the summer with the Uniform Law Commission, the state bar and other interested parties.
No formal committee action was taken.
