Legislation Advances to Expand Protections for Health Care Workers

Members of the Indiana Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee voted 7-1 today in favor of Senate Bill (SB) 419 to expand protections for Indiana health care workers.

Indiana law currently provides an enhanced penalty for battery committed against certain licensed health care professionals and any staff member of an emergency department in a hospital. If SB 419 becomes law, these enhanced criminal penalties would be applied to acts of violence and verbal intimidation against all health care workers.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care workers are five times more likely to experience a workplace violence injury than workers in other industries. One study found that most cases of violence against health care workers take place in the outpatient setting.

“We thank Sen. Cyndi Carrasco and members of the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee for standing up for health care workers whose safety on the job is essential for quality patient care,” said Scott B. Tittle, president of the Indiana Hospital Association “This vote underscores the critical importance of protecting employees from physical and verbal aggressiveness, allowing them to safely deliver care to Hoosier patients.”

Several health care organizations testified in support of SB 419, including IHA, IU Health, the Indiana State Nurses Association (ISNA) and Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership (IONL).

Speaking in favor of the bill was Larry Tracy, president of Memorial Hospital of South Bend, which is part of Beacon Health System in northern Indiana.  

In 2024 alone, Memorial Hospital had 250 documented emergency calls for security assistance and its police department made 101 arrests with 23 additional referrals to the local prosecutor. Staff at Memorial experienced 28 instances of battery, 23 instances of disorderly conduct, 15 instances of intimidation, four sexual battery/assaults and two instances of strangulation.

“While we know Senate Bill 419 will not fix the problem in its entirety, it demonstrates to our health care workforce that we stand with them and will not tolerate any violence or intimidation committed against them,” said Tracy.  

The bill is expected to next be heard by the full Senate.

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