This bill establishes the criminal offense of aggravated assault upon a healthcare worker in Arkansas. It defines "healthcare worker" to include a wide range of individuals involved in the delivery and support of healthcare services, such as physicians, nurses, paramedics, technicians, pharmacists, and various support staff. The bill amends existing definitions in Arkansas Code 5-13-101 and 5-13-202 to incorporate this new classification and clarify the roles of healthcare workers in the context of assault and battery.

Under the new section 5-13-215, a person commits aggravated assault upon a healthcare worker if they purposely engage in conduct that creates a potential danger of infection to the healthcare worker by causing them to come into contact with bodily fluids. This offense is classified as a Class D felony. The bill also clarifies that it does not alter existing provisions regarding juvenile case transfers or the determination of a defendant's fitness to proceed in a criminal case.

Statutes affected:
SB 435: 5-13-101, 5-13-202(a)
Act 753: 5-13-101, 5-13-202(a)