An Act to renumber and amend 947.016 (3); to create 947.016 (3) (am) of the statutes; Relating to: threats to health care providers and providing a penalty.
Summary
SB897 would expand Wisconsin’s felony threat statute for health care workers. Under current law, it is a Class H felony to threaten a health care provider or a person working in a health care facility under certain circumstances. This bill broadens that protection by defining “health care provider” and “health care facility” by reference to existing battery-law definitions, which would bring in certain workers who may not actually work inside a health care facility, such as emergency medical technicians.
The bill also clarifies that the felony penalty applies when the threat is made in response to an action taken by a health care provider in the provider’s official capacity, even if that action did not occur at a health care facility. In effect, the measure extends criminal protection to a wider range of medical personnel and to threats tied to their professional duties, not just conduct occurring on facility premises.
Impact
SB897 would amend s. 947.016 (3) of the Wisconsin statutes by renumbering the existing subsection and creating a new definitional subsection. Its practical effect is to expand the scope of the Class H felony for threats against health care workers, their staff, and family members by incorporating broader statutory definitions of “health care provider” and “health care facility” from s. 940.51. The bill would likely affect prosecutors, law enforcement, health care employers, emergency medical personnel, and individuals accused of making threats connected to medical duties.
Sentiment
The available record shows little direct committee debate or recorded vote activity, so there is no detailed public discussion to gauge broad sentiment. The bill’s introduction by a bipartisan group of senators and representatives suggests some level of support for strengthening protections for health care workers. However, the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, indicating that it did not advance to enactment despite its protective purpose.
Contention
The main policy issue is the breadth of the criminal threat statute. Supporters would likely view the bill as a needed update to protect emergency medical technicians and other health care personnel whose work may occur outside a traditional facility, and to cover threats tied to official actions wherever they occur. Potential concerns could include whether the expanded definitions and the “official capacity” language broaden criminal liability too far or create ambiguity about what conduct qualifies. No committee transcript is available here, so specific objections or proponents’ arguments are not recorded in the provided materials.
Crossfiled
An Act to renumber and amend 947.016 (3); to create 947.016 (3) (am) of the statutes; Relating to: threats to health care providers and providing a penalty.