Bill > S1718

This bill requires health care employers to develop comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs to protect their employees. The legislation mandates that health care facilities, which include hospitals and various state-operated care facilities, conduct annual facility-specific risk assessments to identify potential workplace violence factors, such as working alone, in high-crime areas, or with potentially volatile patients. Based on these assessments, employers must create a written violence prevention plan that includes employee training, methods for reporting incidents, strategies to mitigate risks, and a crisis response team to support employees who experience workplace violence. The bill also establishes new protections for employees, including paid leave for victims of assault that occurred in the line of duty and provisions that prevent employers from penalizing workers who report safety concerns. Additionally, the bill increases criminal penalties for assaults against health care workers, with potential imprisonment of up to five years or fines between $500 and $5,000. The legislation aims to address the growing concern of workplace violence in health care settings by providing a structured approach to prevention, reporting, and support for affected employees.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1718