Amendment #3 to H4645

Including Health Care Workers in Assault and Battery Protections

Mr. Paulino of Methuen moves to amend the amendment by adding the following section:

SECTION XXXX. Section 13D of chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the words “public transit worker” the following words:— “and health care worker”.

Said section 13D of said chapter 265 is hereby further amended by inserting after the definition of “public transit worker” the following definition:— “Health care worker”, an employee, contractor, volunteer, or student providing health care services at a health care facility, including but not limited to hospitals licensed under section 51 of chapter 111, the teaching hospital of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, state-operated acute or non-acute care facilities, continuing care facilities, and group homes operated, funded, or subject to oversight by the department of public health, the department of mental health, or the department of developmental services.

Said section 13D of said chapter 265 is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “public employee” the following words:— , including a public transit worker and health care worker while such individual is engaged in the performance of their duties, and by adding the following paragraph:— A health care worker shall have the same rights and protections under this section as a public employee described herein, and all penalties applicable to assaults on public employees shall apply equally to assaults committed against health care workers while in the performance of their duties.