This bill amends N.J.S.2C:12-1 to enhance penalties for assaults against specific health care support staff and security guards at licensed health care facilities, State or county psychiatric hospitals, and veterans' memorial homes. The legislation reclassifies simple assault against these individuals to aggravated assault, provided that the assailant is not a patient or resident classified as having a mental illness or developmental disability. The new legal language specifies that aggravated assault is a crime of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury, and a crime of the fourth degree otherwise.

The bill aims to protect health care support staff and security personnel by imposing stricter penalties for assaults, reflecting the importance of their roles in maintaining safety and providing care in these facilities. Under the proposed changes, a third-degree crime can result in three to five years of imprisonment and fines up to $15,000, while a fourth-degree crime can lead to imprisonment for up to 18 months and fines up to $10,000. This legislative effort underscores the commitment to safeguarding those who serve in critical health care and security positions.