Bill > S0346

This bill amends South Carolina law to create a comprehensive legal framework for protecting healthcare professionals and individuals in healthcare facilities from assault and battery. The bill establishes four distinct levels of assault and battery offenses, ranging from third-degree (a misdemeanor) to high and aggravated nature (the most serious felony). Each level is defined by the severity of injury and specific circumstances, such as touching private parts, committing the assault during another crime, or causing moderate or great bodily injury. For healthcare professionals (which includes physicians, nurses, emergency medical workers, and others) and people in healthcare facilities, these new provisions mean that assaults will be treated more seriously, with penalties increasing based on the nature and severity of the attack. For example, a third-degree assault could result in a fine up to $1,000 and up to one year in prison, while an assault causing great bodily injury could lead to up to 30 years of imprisonment. The bill also includes precise legal definitions for terms like "great bodily injury" and "moderate bodily injury" to provide clear guidance for prosecuting such cases. A similar set of provisions is also added for assaults against correctional facility employees, creating a parallel legal structure for protecting these professionals.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0346&session=126&summary=B