In obstructing governmental operations, further providing for obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.
Summary
HB2292 amends Pennsylvania’s criminal obstruction statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 5101, to create a specific exception for health care facilities and emergency departments. Under the bill, an owner, operator, or employee of a health care facility may use nonviolent means to deny or otherwise obstruct a law enforcement officer’s entry onto the premises, including a facility parking lot, unless the officer can show probable cause that the person sought is on the premises and possesses a judicial warrant that clearly identifies that person.
The bill also defines key terms such as “health care facility,” “emergency department,” “judicial warrant,” and “law enforcement officer.” It would take effect 60 days after enactment. In practical terms, the measure narrows when conduct at medical facilities can be prosecuted as obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, while preserving the general offense for other forms of obstruction.
Impact
HB2292 would modify Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by carving out a new statutory exception to the offense of obstructing administration of law or other governmental function. It would give health care facilities and their personnel express authority to nonviolently refuse or delay law enforcement entry in limited circumstances, which could affect how police execute arrests or detentions at hospitals and other covered facilities. The bill would also add statutory definitions that clarify the scope of the exception and the warrant/probable-cause threshold required for entry.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a targeted protection for health care settings rather than a broad criminal justice change. The sponsor list suggests support from a group of Democratic lawmakers, and there is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials. Overall sentiment cannot be measured from transcripts or votes, but the bill’s structure indicates an intent to balance law enforcement access with patient, staff, and facility safety concerns.
Contention
The central point of contention is likely the balance between law enforcement authority and the autonomy of health care facilities to control access to their premises. Supporters would likely view the bill as protecting patients, staff, and sensitive medical environments from disruptive or potentially coercive police entry, especially in emergency departments. Opponents could argue that the exception may hinder legitimate law enforcement operations, particularly if officers need quick access to a person on hospital property. The bill’s requirement for both probable cause and a judicial warrant suggests an effort to limit the exception to clearly defined circumstances.