In assault, providing for the offense of intimidation of health care workers.
Summary
HB1055 would add a new criminal offense to Pennsylvania’s assault statutes for intimidation of health care workers. The bill makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly and willfully make an oral or written threat against a health care practitioner, technician, or hospital security officer with the intent to intimidate, interfere with, or impede the performance of official duties. It also covers sending or delivering such a threat.
The bill sets the first offense as a summary offense and a second or subsequent offense as a third-degree misdemeanor. It also requires health care facilities to post conspicuous notice of the offense at each public entrance, and it bars conviction under the new section unless the notice was posted or the person had actual notice. The bill would take effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
HB1055 would amend Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by creating a new section in the assault chapter, adding criminal penalties specifically tied to threats against health care workers and hospital security officers. It would affect patients, visitors, and others who make threatening statements in health care settings, while also imposing a posting requirement on health care facilities and incorporating existing statutory definitions from the Health Care Facilities Act and the Medical Practice Act of 1985.
Sentiment
Based on the bill’s sponsorship and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed as a protective, pro-worker public safety bill. The sponsor list suggests support from members concerned about violence, threats, and workplace safety in health care settings. No contrary sentiment is documented in the available record.
Contention
The main policy issue is how broadly the new offense would reach and whether it could be used to criminalize heated speech or patient frustration in medical settings. Another point of potential contention is the notice requirement: the bill conditions conviction on posted warnings or actual notice, which may raise questions about enforcement and facility compliance. The bill also distinguishes between first and repeat offenses, which may prompt discussion about whether the penalties are appropriately calibrated for conduct occurring in hospitals and clinics.
In assault, further providing for the offense of ethnic intimidation; in particular rights and immunities, further providing for civil rights violations; and, in employees, further providing for definitions and providing for annual officer training on hate-based intimidation.
In assault, further providing for the offense of ethnic intimidation; in particular rights and immunities, further providing for civil rights violations; and, in employees, further providing for definitions and providing for annual officer training on hate-based intimidation.
In assault, further providing for the offense of ethnic intimidation; and, in particular rights and immunities, further prohibiting civil rights violations.
In assault, further providing for the offense of ethnic intimidation; and, in particular rights and immunities, further prohibiting civil rights violations.
In falsification and intimidation, providing for the offense of failure to comply with child abuse offender registration requirements; in sentencing, providing for registration of child abuse offenders; and imposing penalties.