Violence against employees of health care facilities is a problem that needs to be addressed.

I am preparing to introduce legislation to address the issue of workplace violence in health care facilities. My bill is based on the information and feedback received from a range of groups representing employees and health care facilities. 

 My bill will:

• Protect the rights of employees to report workplace violence (to the facility or law enforcement) and requires facilities to take specific actions when a report is received.
• Protect the ability of employees to bring concerns and suggestions related to workplace violence to their employers.
• Provide annual communications about workplace violence from facilities directly to employees.
• Provide a grading enhancement for violence against a health care employee (except where a similar grading enhancement is already provided by law).
• Protect health care facilities, employees and security contractors from civil liability when they must take action to protect employees from workplace violence.
• Enforce these new requirements through the Department of Health, which has experience regulating health care facilities.

 I hope you will join me as a cosponsor.