Save Healthcare Workers Act

Summary#

This bill, titled the Save Healthcare Workers Act, would create a new federal crime for knowingly assaulting a person employed by a hospital (or an entity contracting with a hospital) while that person is performing their duties. The basic penalty is a fine or up to 10 years in prison. Penalties increase to up to 20 years if a deadly or dangerous weapon is used, bodily injury results, or the assault happens during a declared public emergency. The bill includes an affirmative defense if the defendant has a physical, mental, or intellectual disability and the conduct was a clear, direct manifestation of that disability. The bill defines which facilities count as hospitals and what counts as a declaration of a public emergency.

The bill also adds a grant program (Part PP) to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The Attorney General could award grants to hospitals for programs to reduce hospital violence. Allowed uses include de-escalation and mental-health crisis training, coordination with state and local law enforcement, installing access-control and surveillance technology, panic buttons and safe rooms, and other violence-prevention measures. The Attorney General must publish guidelines within 90 days of enactment, give preferential consideration to hospitals with demonstrated need, aim for geographic and urban/rural equity, limit administrative costs to 2 percent of each grant, and report yearly to Congress. The bill authorizes $25,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2034 for the grant program, with funds remaining available until expended.

What it means for you#

• Hospital employees: Assaulting staff while they perform duties could be prosecuted under a new federal offense with penalties up to 10 years, or up to 20 years in more serious cases. An affirmative defense is available for certain disability-related conduct.
• Hospitals and contractors: Hospitals could apply for grants to pay for training, security technology, coordination with law enforcement, and related violence-prevention programs. Applications must describe intended uses and certify compliance with program rules.
• Law enforcement and prosecutors: Federal authorities would have a new statute to use alongside state and local prosecution for assaults on hospital personnel. The Attorney General would set grant rules and report annually to Congress.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes appropriations of $25,000,000 for each fiscal year 2025 through 2034 for the hospital safety grant program. Those funds remain available until expended.
• Grants may spend up to 2 percent of each award on administrative costs.

Proponents' View#

The bill's findings state that assaults and intimidation against hospital employees are a serious and growing national problem that disrupt health care delivery, reduce staff productivity, and lead to worse patient outcomes. The text argues that federal involvement is warranted because hospitals participate in interstate commerce and because federal, state, and local authorities can partner to investigate and prosecute these crimes. The bill frames the new criminal statute and grant program as tools to protect hospital workers and reduce violence.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.