Bill > H0259

This bill requires Vermont hospitals to develop comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans aimed at enhancing safety for healthcare employees. The legislation mandates that each hospital create a security plan developed by a team including healthcare employees, regional agency representatives, and law enforcement, based on a detailed risk assessment of high-risk areas like emergency departments. The plan must include provisions such as: employee training in de-escalation and trauma-informed care, an option for employees to have minimally identifying name badges, requiring at least one staff member trained in de-escalation to be present in patient care areas, and establishing guidelines for law enforcement involvement during violent incidents. Hospitals must also implement a workplace violence incident reporting system to document and track violent events, with protections against discrimination or retaliation for reporting. The bill requires hospitals to post notices about zero tolerance for threatening behavior and prohibits workplace violence. The Agency of Human Services is tasked with helping hospitals identify funding and support for these prevention programs. Notably, the bill does not require hospitals to make capital investments to implement their security plans and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with additional amendments to existing healthcare regulations to support these new requirements.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.259