Bill > S05803

This bill requires the New York City Department of Corrections and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation to develop and implement a comprehensive safety policy to protect health care workers who provide medical services to incarcerated individuals. The policy mandates annual training for uniformed staff and special officers on how to secure incarcerated individuals during medical interactions, and establishes protocols for notifying health care workers about patients with a history of violent or aggressive behavior. Key provisions include requiring joint reports every six months detailing the safety policy's implementation, including an annual report to the legislature that analyzes potential deterrent measures like enhanced sentencing for assaults on health care workers. The bill also creates a private right of action, allowing health care workers to sue the department or corporation for damages if minimum safety standards are not enforced. The definitions in the bill broadly include various health care professionals like dentists and physical therapists who provide services in correctional facilities, ensuring wide-ranging protection for medical staff working in challenging environments with potentially dangerous patients.