SB1311 Summary

• Amends Arizona law to enhance protections for health care workers by adding "health care worker" as a protected class under aggravated assault statutes, making assault on a health care worker during work duties a class 6 felony.

• Defines "health care worker" to include employees and contractors at licensed health care institutions and those providing health care services in field settings such as home health care, hospice, and emergency services.

• Requires health care employers with more than 50 employees to develop and implement written workplace violence prevention plans by July 1, 2023, including hazard assessments, incident reporting procedures, and staff training.

• Mandates health care employers post 12-inch by 12-inch signs in public areas notifying patients that assault on health care workers may be prosecuted as a felony.

• Prohibits health care employers from discriminating or retaliating against workers for reporting violence incidents, seeking assistance from law enforcement or government agencies, or acting in self-defense against threats of physical harm.