Bill > H3480

This bill amends South Carolina's assault and battery laws to provide enhanced protections for healthcare workers within healthcare facilities. Specifically, the bill adds new provisions that create more severe criminal penalties for assaults committed against healthcare workers in medical settings. The legislation defines "healthcare facility" to include medical facilities, reception and administrative areas, and healthcare professionals' offices, and defines "healthcare worker" as licensed healthcare providers, registered healthcare service providers, and healthcare facility employees. The bill establishes two new specific assault categories within healthcare facilities: one involving great bodily injury (which can result in up to 15 years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine with a mandatory 90-day minimum sentence) and another involving moderate bodily injury or offensive physical contact (which can result in up to 5 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine with a mandatory 30-day minimum sentence). Additionally, the bill includes a provision that allows healthcare workers who are assault victims to use their workplace address on all legal documents related to the incident, which can help protect their personal information. These changes aim to deter violence against healthcare workers and provide legal recourse and protection for those who work in medical environments.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3480&session=126&summary=B