HB 1055 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, providing for the offense of intimidation of health care workers.

PRINTER'S NO.     1146

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1055
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, PIELLI, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ,
        HOHENSTEIN, McNEILL, HANBIDGE, MAYES, FREEMAN, NEILSON,
        CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, SCHLOSSBERG, VENKAT, GUENST, PROBST, DALEY,
        HADDOCK, WARREN, DEASY, CURRY, KENYATTA AND BOROWSKI,
        MARCH 26, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 26, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in assault, providing for the offense
 3      of intimidation of health care workers.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.      Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 2706.1.      Intimidation of health care workers.
 9      (a)   Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of
10   intimidation of a health care worker if the person:
11            (1)    knowingly and willfully makes a threat orally or in
12      writing against any health care practitioner, technician or
13      hospital security officer with the intent to intimidate,
14      interfere with or impede the performance of official duties;
15      or
16            (2)    knowingly or willfully sends or delivers a threat
17      prohibited under paragraph (1).
 1      (b)   Grading.--
 2            (1)   A first offense under subsection (a) shall
 3      constitute a summary offense.
 4            (2)   A second or subsequent offense under subsection (a)
 5      shall constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree.
 6      (c)   Posting of notice.--Notice of the offense under this
 7   section shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to
 8   each health care facility. No person shall be convicted of an
 9   offense under this section if the notice was not posted at each
10   public entrance of the health care facility unless the person
11   had actual notice of the offense.
12      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
13   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
14   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
15      "Health care facility."    The term shall have the meaning
16   given to it in section 103 of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130,
17   No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act.
18      "Health care practitioner."     The term shall have the meaning
19   given to it in section 103 of the Health Care Facilities Act.
20      "Hospital security officer."     An employee of a hospital
21   charged with maintaining the safety and security of the property
22   of the hospital and the individuals on the property.
23      "Technician."    The term shall have the meaning given to it in
24   the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the
25   Medical Practice Act of 1985.
26      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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