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Bill > S3601
NJ S3601
NJ S3601Exempts simple assault on health care worker at psychiatric screening center from being automatically upgraded to aggravated assault under certain circumstances.
summary
Introduced
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill exempts simple assault committed against a health care worker at a psychiatric screening center from being automatically upgraded to aggravated assault, where the actor is a person at a psychiatric screening center for the purpose of undergoing psychiatric screening. Currently, under paragraph (5) of N.J.S.2C:12-1 a simple assault on a health care worker employed by a licensed health care facility to provide direct patient care, or any licensed health care professional, is automatically elevated to an aggravated assault, except where the health care worker is a direct care worker at a State or county psychiatric hospital or other specifically enumerated facilities. In the latter instance, the assault remains a simple assault. Not all psychiatric screenings occur at a State or county psychiatric hospital or other facility specifically enumerated in the statute. Many occur at local screening facilities not specifically enumerated in the statute. The net effect is that an assault that occurs at a screening facility that is not a "State or county hospital" or other type of specific facility could be automatically upgraded to an aggravated assault. It is the sponsors' view that this elevation of assault for psychiatric patients in a psychiatric screening center is counterproductive for patients. Many psychiatrically involved persons in local screening centers have waited hours and are likely to be agitated and combative. This bill adds health care workers at any psychiatric screening center to the category of persons for whom an assault is not automatically elevated to aggravated assault. The bill maintains the category of direct care workers for whom an assault is elevated to aggravated assault provided that the actor is not a person at a psychiatric screening center for the purpose of undergoing psychiatric screening.
AI Summary
This bill amends existing law to exempt simple assaults against health care workers at psychiatric screening centers from being automatically classified as aggravated assault, provided the person committing the assault is there for psychiatric screening. Currently, simple assaults on most health care workers are elevated to aggravated assault, with some exceptions for specific facilities like state or county psychiatric hospitals. This bill aims to address situations where assaults occur at local screening facilities not explicitly listed in the current law, recognizing that individuals undergoing psychiatric screening may be agitated. The bill clarifies that while assaults on direct care workers at certain facilities remain aggravated assault, this exemption applies specifically to those at psychiatric screening centers for the purpose of undergoing screening.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 02/19/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S3601 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S4000/3601_I1.HTM |
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