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H.R. 3178: Save Healthcare Workers Act

This bill, known as the Save Healthcare Workers Act, aims to address the rising incidence of violence against healthcare personnel in hospitals and similar facilities. Here is an overview of the key components of the bill:

1. Findings

The bill begins by stating several findings about the problem of violence against healthcare workers, including:

The high rates of assault and intimidation against healthcare employees have been a growing issue, particularly worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Such violence negatively impacts the performance of healthcare workers and can lead to decreased productivity, lower quality of care, employee absenteeism, and high turnover rates.
Effective prosecution and prevention require federal involvement because current federal laws are considered inadequate to address these issues fully.
The healthcare sector significantly contributes to the national economy, and violence against healthcare workers can disrupt the delivery of essential services.

2. Prohibition of Assault on Hospital Personnel

The bill proposes to amend existing federal law to define and criminalize the assault of hospital personnel. Key points include:

It would be illegal to knowingly assault a hospital employee while they are performing their duties, with penalties including fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years.
In cases where the assault involves a dangerous weapon or results in bodily injury, the penalties could increase to up to 20 years of imprisonment.
Special provisions are included for acts that occur during declared public emergencies, which would also carry enhanced penalties.

3. Grant Program for Hospital Workforce Safety

The bill creates a new grant program aimed at enhancing safety and security measures for healthcare workers. Main aspects include:

The Attorney General would be authorized to make grants to hospitals for programs designed to reduce violence and intimidation against hospital personnel.
Funds from the grants could be used for various initiatives such as training programs in violence prevention, enhancing coordination with law enforcement, and implementing security technologies.
Priority would be given to hospitals demonstrating significant needs for security improvements.
The bill calls for an equitable distribution of grant funds across different regions and types of hospitals.

4. Reporting and Oversight

The bill outlines that an annual report must be submitted to Congress detailing the number and amount of grants distributed, as well as their purposes.