This bill amends various sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to enhance protections for pharmacists and health care professionals by prohibiting assaults against them. It introduces new definitions and classifications for assault offenses specifically targeting public safety officers, health care professionals, and pharmacists, while removing previous references to emergency responders and state correctional employees. The bill establishes penalties for first, second, and third-degree assaults against these individuals, with enhanced penalties if the victim is a pregnant woman. Additionally, it mandates that hospitals and health clinics display warnings about the legal consequences of assaulting health care professionals or pharmacists during their duties, particularly in cases involving bodily fluids that may carry infectious diseases.

Moreover, the bill requires pharmacies to display a prominent warning sign regarding the serious consequences of assaulting a pharmacist, with specific dimensions and font size outlined. It expands the definition of assault to include public safety officers, health care professionals, and pharmacists, thereby increasing penalties for these crimes. The bill also repeals outdated sections related to previous definitions and classifications of assault, consolidating them under the new definitions to ensure the law remains current and relevant to the protection of these professionals. Overall, the bill aims to enhance legal protections for public safety officers and health care professionals while streamlining the legal framework by removing outdated provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-101, 28-115, 28-929.01, 28-929, 28-930, 28-931, 28-934, 28-929.02, 28-1351, 28-1354, 29-2221, 84-941.01