The "Healthcare Workplace Security Act" aims to enhance protections for healthcare workers in South Carolina by amending Section 16-3-600 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. The bill introduces definitions for "healthcare facility" and "healthcare worker," and specifies that the address of a healthcare facility will be used as the address for healthcare workers who are victims of assault and battery within these facilities. The act categorizes various assault and battery offenses, particularly those committed against healthcare workers, and establishes stricter penalties for such offenses, including mandatory minimum sentences and fines.

Key provisions include the classification of assault and battery offenses committed within healthcare facilities as felonies or misdemeanors, depending on the severity of the injury inflicted. For instance, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature against a healthcare worker can result in a felony charge with a fine of up to fifty thousand dollars and a mandatory minimum imprisonment of ninety days. Additionally, the act ensures that healthcare workers' addresses are protected in legal documents related to incidents of violence against them, thereby enhancing their safety and privacy. The bill is set to take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 11-7-70, 1-3-240, 11-7-10
12/06/2024-A: 16-3-600
02/05/2025: 16-3-600
Latest Version: 16-3-600