HSB 9 (LSB 1156YC (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON NORDMAN)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations including a health care provider, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 708.3A, subsection 5, paragraph d, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   d.  “Health care provider” means an emergency medical care provider as defined in chapter 147A or a person licensed or registered under chapter 148, 148C, 148D, or 152 who is providing or who is attempting to provide emergency medical services, as defined in section 147A.1, or who is providing or who is attempting to provide health services as defined in section 10A.711 in working, volunteering, or participating in an educational course of instruction at a hospital or rural emergency hospital as defined in chapter 135B. A person who commits an assault under this section against a health care provider in a hospital, or at the scene or during out-of-hospital patient transportation in an ambulance, is presumed to know that the person against whom the assault is committed is a health care provider.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations including a health care provider.
   The bill amends the definition of “health care provider” to include a person who is working, volunteering, or participating in an educational course of instruction at a hospital or rural emergency hospital.
   An assault on a health care provider can result in penalties including a serious misdemeanor, an aggravated misdemeanor, or a class “D” felony. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245.