Advocates for nursing-home residents are pushing back against a proposal to give broad immunity for businesses that may face lawsuits connected with the coronavirus pandemic.

So far, more than 1,000 people living in Nebraska’s long-term care facilities have died of COVID-19.

Nursing-home residents make up just 1% of Nebraska’s population but account for 50% of the state’s coronavirus mortalities.

Todd Stubbendieck, state director for AARP Nebraska, said now is not the time to let nursing homes off the hook for abuse, neglect and even death.

“It’s not right to use COVID as a ‘get out of jail free card’ for those facilities that may have had incidents of neglect or abuse,” Stubbendieck argued. “And we should not shut off the rights of these families to be able to access the courts.”

Stubbendieck believes the COVID-19 Liability Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Tom Briese, R-Albion, is not necessary because Nebraska already has barriers to prevent frivolous lawsuits.

The bill’s proponents say the law will help the state recover from the economic fallout from COVID-19, and noted the measure has exemptions for incidents of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

The president of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys told the Kearney Hub he’s opposed to the measure, because it would limit access to justice through the courts if people are injured by businesses that do not follow accepted policies and procedures.

Stubbendieck contended long-term care facilities are not like other businesses. They are charged with taking care of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

“The vast majority of these facilities are doing the right thing, and want to do the right thing,” Stubbendieck acknowledged. “And so I don’t think that there is a problem with continuing to hold them accountable to do the right thing.”

Stubbendieck added his group will continue to hold facilities responsible for providing quality care, adding he hopes lawmakers will reject Legislative Bill 139.

He stressed legal action must remain an option for families, and accountability gives nursing homes a strong incentive to self-correct by addressing problems up front.