SAVE Act

Bill: 118-s-2768
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2023-09-12
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Crime prevention

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Government studies and investigations

Health facilities and institutions

Health personnel

Hospital care

Worker safety and health
Latest action: action_date: 2023-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2768 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 12, 2023 Mr. Manchin (for himself and Mr. Rubio ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To protect hospital personnel from violence, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act or the SAVE Act . 2. Prevention of violence against hospital personnel (a) Prohibition on interference with hospital personnel in the performance of duties Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 120. Interference with performance of duties of hospital personnel (a) In general Whoever knowingly assaults an individual employed by a hospital engaged in interstate commerce, or an entity contracting with a hospital or other medical facility engaged in interstate commerce, during the course of the performance of the duties of such individual, and, as a result, interferes with the performance of the duties of such individual or limits the ability of such individual to perform such duties, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both. (b) Enhanced penalties (1) Acts involving dangerous weapons or acts that result in bodily injury Whoever, in the commission of any act described in subsection (a), uses a deadly or dangerous weapon or inflicts serious bodily injury, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both. (2) Acts committed during emergency declarations Whoever commits any act described in subsection (a) during the period of a declaration of a public emergency for the area in which the act is committed shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both. (c) Defense It shall be a defense to a prosecution under this section that— (1) the defendant is a person with a physical, mental, or intellectual disability; and (2) the conduct of the defendant was a clear and direct manifestation of such disability. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Hospital The term hospital means any of the following medical facilities: (A) A hospital (as defined in section 1861(e) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(e) )). (B) A long-term care hospital (as defined in section 1861(ccc) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(ccc) )). (C) A rehabilitation facility (as described in section 1886(j)(1)(A) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(j)(1)(A) )). (D) A children's hospital (as described in section 1886(d)(1)(B)(iii) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(iii) )). (E) A cancer hospital (as described in section 1886(d)(1)(B)(v) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(v) )). (F) A critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm)(1) )). (G) A rural emergency hospital (as defined in section 1861(kkk)(2) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(2) )). (2) Declaration of a public emergency The term declaration of a public emergency means an emergency or major disaster declared by the President pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. ). . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 120. Interference with performance of duties of hospital personnel. . 3. GAO study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on— (1) how this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, has affected workplace violence in healthcare settings; and (2) whether Federal, State, and local prosecutions for workplace violence in healthcare settings have increased or decreased because of the ability to prosecute these incidents as Federal crimes.