Legislative Bill 157 was introduced in the 2008 Legislative Session. LB 157 was passed on Final Reading, February 7, 2008, by the vote of 41-1-7.
The full text of LB 157 reads: "No person shall be prosecuted for any crime based solely upon the act of leaving a child in the custody of an employee on duty at a hospital licensed by the State of Nebraska. The hospital shall promptly contact appropriate authorities to take custody of the child."
LB 157 did not provide an age limit for which a person would drop off a child at a hospital and not be prosecuted.
In a 2008 Special Session of the Legislature, Legislative Bill 1 was introduced. LB 1 limits the age of a child who a person can drop off at a hospital and not be prosecuted to the age of 30 days or younger. Forty-three senators voted for the final version of LB 1. It was signed by Governor Heineman on November 21, 2008.