(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a public employer shall not ask an applicant for employment to disclose, orally or in writing, information concerning the applicant's criminal record or history, including any inquiry on any employment application, until the public employer has determined the applicant meets the minimum employment qualifications.

(2) This section does not apply to any law enforcement agency, to any position for which a public employer is required by federal or state law to conduct a criminal history record information check, or to any position for which federal or state law specifically disqualifies an applicant with a criminal background.

(3)(a) This section does not prevent a public employer that is a school district or educational service unit from requiring an applicant for employment to disclose an applicant's criminal record or history relating to sexual or physical abuse.

(b) This section does not prevent a public employer from preparing or delivering an employment application that conspicuously states that a criminal history record information check is required by federal law, state law, or the employer's policy.

(c) This section does not prevent a public employer from conducting a criminal history record information check after the public employer has determined that the applicant meets the minimum employment qualifications.

(4) For purposes of this section:

(a) Law enforcement agency means an agency or department of this state or of any political subdivision of this state which is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime, the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws of this state or any political subdivision of this state, and the enforcement of arrest warrants. Law enforcement agency includes a police department, an office of the town marshal, an office of the county sheriff, the Nebraska State Patrol, and any department to which a deputy state sheriff is assigned as provided in section 84-106; and

(b) Public employer means an agency or department of this state or of any political subdivision of this state.