Bill > S3101

This bill, the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2016, amends the Public Health Service Act to provide liability protection for healthcare professionals who volunteer their services during a disaster. Specifically, it shields these volunteers from liability under federal or state law for harm caused by their actions or omissions, provided they are acting in good faith during a declared disaster and believe the individual needs care. This protection does not apply if the harm resulted from willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless behavior, or if the professional was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill defines "disaster" to include national emergencies, major disasters declared by the President, or public health emergencies. It also clarifies that "harm" includes various types of losses and defines "health care professional" as someone licensed or authorized to practice a health profession, and "volunteer" as someone not receiving compensation exceeding $500 per year for their services.