,i  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #gifa  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,june #g1 #bjbb,ms4   
,dean 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,buc%on7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y  ,a ,,bill 
,to protect hospital p]sonnel f viol5ce1
 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is
 ,act may be cit$ z ! ,safety ,f        
,viol5ce = ,heal?c>e ,employees ,act or 
! ,,save ,act4  #b4 ,prev5tion ( viol5ce
 aga9/ hospital p]sonnel  7a7 ,f9d+s    
,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! 
incid5ce ( assault & intimidation aga9/ 
hospital employees poses a s]i\s        
national problem4  7#b7 ,! problem (    
assault & intimidation aga9/ hospital & 
heal? c>e employees prec$$ ! ,,covid-#ai
 p&emic4 ,accord+ to an ,april #bjbj    
,bureau ( ,labor ,/ati/ics report1 !    
heal? c>e & social s]vice indu/ries     
exp]i5c$ ! highe/ rates ( injuries caus$
 by workplace viol5ce & 7 #e times z    
likely to suff] a workplace viol5ce     
injury ?an work]s ov]all 9 #bjah4 ,t    

report also f\nd t ! incid5ce rate =    
workplace viol5ce aga9/ heal? c>e work]s
 _h /eadily increas$ s9ce #bjaa4 ,!     
,,covid-#ai p&emic exac]bat$ ?is gr[+   
problem4  7#c7 ,workplace viol5ce 9     
hospitals inhibits hospital employees f 
p]=m+ _! duties & !reby disrupts !      
deliv]y ( heal? c>e s]vices & leads to  
adv]se pati5t outcomes4 ,viol5ce t[>ds  
hospital work]s also has be5 associat$ )
 decreas$ productivity & quality ( c>e1 
employee abs5teeism1 & increas$ employee
 turnov]4  7#d7 ,/ate & local au?orities
 are n[ & w cont9ue to be responsible = 
prosecut+ ! ov]:elm+ majority ( viol5t  
crimes 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+       
assault & intimidation aga9/ hospital   
employees4 ,^! au?orities c address !   
problem ( assault & intimidation aga9/  
hospital employees m effectively )      
great] ,f$]al law en=cem5t involvem5t4  
7#e7 ,exi/+ ,f$]al law is inadequate to 
address ?is problem4  7#f7 ,assault &   
intimidation aga9/ hospital employees   
sub/antially affects int]/ate comm]ce 9 

_m ways1 includ+ ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,heal?  
c>e s]vices are a significant "p ( !    
national economy4 ,9 #bjbj1 exp5ditures 
on heal? c>e s]vices acc\nt$ = #ai4g    
p]c5t ( ! c\ntry's gross dome/ic product
 7or #d1ajj1jjj1jjj1jjj74 ,)9 heal? c>e1
 hospitals & heal? sy/ems are economic  
pill>s t create jobs & support economic 
gr[? across ,/ate l9es4 ,9 #bjbj1       
hospitals directly employ$ #f1cjj1jjj   
individuals4 ,m broadly1 hospitals      
support$ #ag1fjj1jjj jobs ?r\gh\t !     
entire int]/ate economy--ne>ly #a out ( 
#h jobs 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates--& support$   
#c1fjj1jjj1jjj1jjj 9 ov]all economic    
activity4  7,b7 ,! heal? c>e m>ket1 &   
hospitals 9 p>ticul>1 are heavily       
regulat$ by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t4  7,c7   
,hospital rev5ue comes f int]/ate or    
,f$]al s\rces1 su* z out-(-,/ate insur]s
 or ,m$ic>e4  7,d7 ,hospital employees  
:o are victims ( assault or intimidation
 are prev5t$ f pur*as+ goods & s]vices1 
obta9+ or su/a9+ employm5t1 or          
p>ticipat+ 9 o!r comm]cial activity4    

7,e7 ,facilities & in/rum5talities (    
int]/ate comm]ce h be5 us$ 9 !          
commission ( assault & intimidation     
aga9/ hospital employees4  7,f7 ,assault
 & intimidation aga9/ hospital employees
 has be5 committ$ us+ articles t h      
travel$ 9 int]/ate comm]ce4  7#g7 ,9    
,summit ,heal?1 ,ltd4 v4 ,p9has1 #ejj   
,u4,s4 #cbb1 #cbi-cj 7#aiia71 ! ,supreme
 ,c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates held t x is    
cle> t hospitals are regul>ly engag$ 9  
int]/ate comm]ce1 p]=m+ s]vices =       
out-(-,/ate pati5ts & g5]at+ rev5ues f  
out-(-,/ate s\rces4  7#h7 ,9 ,taylor v4 
,unit$ ,/ates1 #egi ,u4,s4  7#bjaf71 !  
,supreme ,c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates rul$ t 
activities t affect comm]ce may be      
regulat$ s long z !y sub/antially affect
 int]/ate comm]ce 9 ! aggregate1 ev5 if 
_! individual impact on int]/ate comm]ce
 is m9imal4 ,9 addition1 z ! ,unit$     
,/ates ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ! ,f\r?       
,circuit recogniz$ 9 ,unit$ ,/ates v4   
,hill1 #ibg ,f4#c;d #ahh 7#d? ,cir4     
#bjai71 ,taylor & o!r ,supreme ,c\rt    

decisions e/abli% t :5 ,congress may    
regulate an economic or comm]cial       
activity--z x may ) respect to          
hospitals--x also may regulate viol5t   
conduct t int]f]es ) or affects t       
activity4 ,accord+ly1 if individuals are
 engag$ 9 ongo+ economic or comm]cial   
activity subject to congressional       
regulation--z hospital employees are--!n
 ,congress also may prohibit viol5t     
crime t int]f]es ) or affects su*       
individuals' ongo+ economic or comm]cial
 activity4  7#i7 ,f$]al jurisdiction ov]
 c]ta9 viol5t crimes aga9/ hospital     
employees enables ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local
 au?orities to "w toge!r z p>tn]s 9 !   
inve/igation & prosecution ( su* crimes4
  7#aj7 ,! problem ( assault &          
intimidation aga9/ hospital employees is
 s]i\s1 widespread1 & int]/ate 9 nature 
z to w>rant ,f$]al assi/ance to         
hospitals to combat t activity4  7b7    
,prohibition on int]f]5ce ) hospital    
p]sonnel 9 ! p]=mance ( duties  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,*apt] #g ( title #ah1 ,unit$     

,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+3  #abj4 ,int]f]5ce ) p]=mance (
 duties ( hospital p]sonnel  7a7 ,9     
g5]al ,:oev] kn[+ly assaults or         
intimidates an individual employ$ by a  
hospital1 or an entity contract+ ) a    
hospital or o!r m$ical facility1 dur+ ! 
c\rse ( ! p]=mance ( ! duties ( su*     
individual1 &1 z a result1 int]f]es ) ! 
p]=mance ( ! duties ( su* individual or 
limits ! ability ( su* individual to    
p]=m su* duties1 %all be f9$ "u ?is     
title1 imprison$ n m ?an #aj ye>s1 or   
bo?4  7b7 ,enhanc$ p5alties  7#a7 ,acts 
involv+ dang]\s weapons or acts t result
 9 bodily injury ,:oev]1 9 ! commission 
( any act describ$ 9 subsection 7a71    
uses a deadly or dang]\s weapon or      
inflicts bodily injury1 %all be f9$ "u  
?is title or imprison$ n m ?an #bj ye>s1
 or bo?4  7#b7 ,acts committ$ dur+      
em]g5cy decl>ations ,:oev] commits any  
act describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 dur+ !    
p]iod ( a decl>ation ( a public em]g5cy 
= ! area 9 :i* ! act is committ$ %all be

 f9$ "u ?is title or imprison$ n m ?an  
#bj ye>s1 or bo?4  7c7 ,def5se ,x %all  
be a def5se to a prosecution "u ?is     
section t-- 7#a7 ! def5dant is a p]son )
 a physical1 m5tal1 or intellectual     
disability2 &  7#b7 ! conduct ( !       
def5dant 0 a cle> & direct manife/ation 
( su* disability4  7d7 ,def9itions ,9   
?is section3 7#a7 ,hospital ,! t]m      
hospital means any ( ! foll[+ m$ical    
facilities3 7,a7 ,a hospital 7z def9$ 9 
section #ahfa7;e7 ( ! ,social ,security 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7e7774  7,b7  
,a long-t]m c>e hospital 7z def9$ 9     
section #ahfa7;ccc7 ( su* ,act 7#db     
,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7ccc7774  7,c7 ,a       
rehabilitation facility 7z def9$ 9      
section #ahhf7;j77#a77;,a7 ( su* ,act   
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acieww7j77#a77;,a7774   
7,d7 ,a canc] hospital 7z describ$ 9    
section #ahhf7;d77#a77;,b77iii7 ( su*   
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4                     
#acieww7d77#a77;,b77iii7774  7,e7 ,a    
*ildr5's hospital 7z describ$ 9 section 
#ahhf7;d77#a77;,b77v7 ( su* ,act 7#db   

,u4,s4,c4 #acieww7d77#a77;,b77v7774     
7,f7 ,a critical access hospital 7z     
def9$ 9 section #ahfa7mm77#a7 ( su* ,act
 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7mm77#a7774  7,g7 
,a rural em]g5cy hospital 7z def9$ 9    
section #ahfa7kkk77#b7 ( su* ,act 7#db  
,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7kkk77#b7774  7#b7      
,decl>ation ( a public em]g5cy ,! t]m   
decl>ation ( a public em]g5cy means any 
( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,a public heal? em]g5cy
 decl>$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human
 ,s]vices "u section #cai ( ! ,public   
,heal? ,s]vice ,act4  7,b7 ,an em]g5cy  
or disa/] decl>$ by ! ,presid5t pursuant
 to ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief 
& ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act4  7,c7 ,an   
em]g5cy or disa/] decl>$ by ! ,presid5t 
pursuant to ! ,national ,em]g5cies ,act4
  4  7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table (   
sections = *apt] #g ( title #ah1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+3  #abj4 ,int]f]5ce ) p]=mance (
 duties ( hospital p]sonnel4  4  7c7    
,grants = ! protection ( ! hospital     
work=ce aga9/ viol5ce ,title ,i ( !     

,omnibus ,crime ,control & ,safe ,/reets
 ,act ( #aifh 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ajaja et  
seq47 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] "p ,,oo ! 
foll[+3  ,,pp ,,grant ,,program ,,=     
,,hospital ,,work=ce ,,safety ,,&       
,,security  #cjfa4 ,grant au?orization  
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,attorney ,g5]al may    
make grants "u ?is "p to hospitals = !  
purpose ( c>ry+ out programs to r$uce ! 
incid5ce ( viol5ce at hospitals1 includ+
 viol5ce or intimidation aga9/ hospital 
p]sonnel 9 ! p]=mance ( _! duties4  7b7 
,use ( funds ,a grant aw>d$ "u ?is "p   
%all be us$ to r$uce ! incid5ce (       
viol5ce at hospitals ?r\gh programs t   
may include "o or m ( ! foll[+3 7#a7    
,tra9+ hospital p]sonnel to prev5t      
viol5ce or intimidation aga9/ o!rs or   
!mselves1 includ+ de-escalation tra9+ & 
specializ$ tra9+ 9 respond+ to m5tal    
heal? crises4  7#b7 ,coord9ation ) ,/ate
 & local law en=cem5t4  7#c7 ,placem5t &
 use ( hospital access control          
te*nologies1 video surveillance1 metal  
detection1 panic buttons1 /atus al]t    

sy/ems1 re/rict$ access capabilities1 & 
safe pati5t & /aff rooms1 & o!r         
viol5ce-prev5tion tools or measures4    
7#d7 ,any o!r measures t ! ,attorney    
,g5]al det]m9es may provide a           
significant improvem5t 9-- 7,a7 tra9+ = 
viol5ce prev5tion at hospitals2 &  7,b7 
protection aga9/ viol5ce & intimidation 
( hospital p]sonnel4  7c7 ,pref]5tial   
consid]ation 9 aw>d+ grants ,9 aw>d+    
grants "u ?is "p1 ! ,attorney ,g5]al    
%all give pref]5tial consid]ation1 if   
feasible1 to an application f a hospital
 t-- 7#a7 has a demon/rat$ ne$ = improv$
 security2  7#b7 has a demon/rat$ ne$ = 
f9ancial assi/ance2 &  7#c7 has evid5c$ 
! ability to make ! improvem5ts = :i* ! 
grant am\nts are s\ght4  7d7 ,equitable 
di/ribution ( grant funds ,9 aw>d+      
grants "u ?is "p1 ! ,attorney ,g5]al    
%all ensure1 to ! ext5t practicable1 an 
equitable geographic di/ribution among !
 regions ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & among      
urban1 suburban1 & rural areas4  7e7    
,adm9i/rative co/s ,n m ?an #b p]c5t ( a

 grant made "u ?is "p may be us$ = co/s 
incurr$ to adm9i/] su* grant4  #cjfb4   
,applications  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,to reque/ a
 grant "u ?is "p1 ! *ief executive ( a  
hospital %all submit an application to !
 ,attorney ,g5]al at su* "t1 9 su* =m1 &
 conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,attorney    
,g5]al may reasonably require4  7b7     
,requirem5ts ,ea* application "u ?is    
section %all include-- 7#a7 a detail$   
explanation (-- 7,a7 ! int5d$ uses (    
funds provid$ "u ! grant2 &  7,b7 h[ !  
activities fund$ "u ! grant w satisfy ! 
purpose ( ?is "p2  7#b7 an assurance t !
 applicant %all ma9ta9 & report su*     
programmatic & f9ancial data1 records1 &
 in=mation z ! ,attorney ,g5]al may     
reasonably require2 &  7#c7 a           
c]tification1 made 9 a =m acceptable to 
! ,attorney ,g5]al1 t-- 7,a7 ! programs 
to be fund$ by ! grant meet all !       
requirem5ts ( ?is "p2  7,b7 all !       
in=mation conta9$ 9 ! application is    
correct2 &  7,c7 ! applicant w comply ) 
all provisions ( ?is "p & all o!r       

applicable ,f$]al laws4  7c7 ,guidel9es 
,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( !    
enactm5t ( ?is "p1 ! ,attorney ,g5]al   
%all promulgate guidel9es to implem5t   
?is section4  #cjfc4 ,annual report to  
congress2 grant acc\ntability  7a7      
,annual report ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft]
 ! end ( ! fiscal ye> = :i* fund+ =     
grants "u ?is "p is made available1 !   
,attorney ,g5]al %all submit to         
,congress a report reg>d+ ! activities  
c>ri$ out "u ?is "p4 ,ea* su* report    
%all include1 = ! prec$+ fiscal ye>1 !  
numb] ( grants fund$ "u ?is "p1 ! am\nt 
( funds provid$ "u ^? grants1 & !       
activities = :i* ^? grant funds 7 us$4  
7b7 ,grant acc\ntability ,section #cjbf 
7relat+ to grant acc\ntability7 %all    
apply to grants aw>d$ by ,attorney      
,g5]al "u ?is "p4 ,= purposes ( ! prec$+
 s5t5ce1 any ref]5ces 9 section #cjbf to
 "p ,,ll %all be consid]$ ref]5ces to "p
 ,,pp4  #cjfd4 ,def9ition ,= purposes ( 
?is "p1 ! t]m hospital has ! mean+ giv5 
su* t]m 9 section #abj7;d77#a7 ( title  

#ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  #cjfe4       
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ #be1jjj1jjj =
 ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbc ?r\gh #bjcb to 
c>ry out ?is "p4 ,funds appropriat$ = a 
fiscal ye> pursuant to ! prec$+ s5t5ce  
%all rema9 available until exp5d$4  4