Behavioral health facility workers routinely place themselves in harm’s way while caring for patients experiencing acute agitation, behavioral crises, or other mental health emergencies.  These workers may be bitten, struck, choked, and spat upon while attempting to de-escalate dangerous situations and protect other patients, coworkers, and visitors. 
 
In my district, a behavioral health technician has been repeatedly assaulted by patients at a mental health facility, sustaining injuries so severe that surgery was ultimately required.  While Pennsylvania’s aggravated assault statute currently provides enhanced protections to psychiatric aides and certain health care practitioners, those protections do not clearly extend to behavioral health technicians like my constituent, social workers, case managers, security personnel, and other members of the treatment team who face many of the same risks. 
 
My legislation will provide needed clarification to the aggravated assault statute by expressly extending its protections to employees, contractors, and volunteers performing duties at licensed behavioral health facilities, including psychiatric hospitals, crisis stabilization units, and residential treatment facilities.  This legislation will protect workers based on the duties they perform and the risks they face – not just their professional license or job title. 
 
I believe that every person who helps maintain a safe therapeutic environment deserves equal protection under the law.  Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation.