This bill introduces felony-level offenses specifically targeting the assault of emergency room personnel. It amends existing laws under RSA 631:1 and RSA 631:2 to include new provisions that classify knowingly causing serious bodily injury to emergency room personnel acting in the line of duty as a first-degree assault offense. Additionally, it establishes that knowingly causing bodily injury to emergency room personnel is classified as a second-degree assault offense. The definition of "emergency room personnel" is expanded to encompass a wide range of individuals working in hospital emergency departments, including healthcare professionals, clerks, technicians, students, and volunteers.

The bill also includes deletions of previous language that referenced other forms of assault, specifically removing the conjunction "or" in certain sections to accommodate the new insertions. The effective date for this legislation is set for January 1, 2027. The fiscal impact of the bill is currently indeterminable, as it may affect the judicial and correctional systems, potentially influencing costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole for state, county, and local governments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 631:1, 631:2