A hospital with a workplace violence prevention plan shall not intentionally prevent an employee from, or take punitive or retaliatory action against an employee for, seeking assistance from local emergency services or law enforcement when a violent incident occurs. A hospital shall maintain a written record of any violent incident against a hospital employee for five years, and shall report such incidents to the Department within 24 to 72 hours following the incident, as described in the act.

By January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Department shall make a report to the Governor and General Assembly, while protecting patient and employee confidentiality, of information on violent incidents at hospitals, including the total number of reports, the specific hospitals that filed such reports, the outcome of any relating investigations, the citations or penalties levied against a hospital based on a violent incident, and any recommendations of the Department on the prevention of violent incidents at hospitals.

This act is substantially similar to SB 390 (2019).

SARAH HASKINS