HB0164 Summary

• Amends Section 12-2 (Aggravated Assault) of the Criminal Code to add new paragraph (5.5) protecting private social service agency employees, including caseworkers and investigators, when assaulted while performing duties at agency facilities, service delivery locations, or client residences.

• Amends Section 12-4 (Aggravated Battery) to add new paragraph (18.5) providing similar protections for private social service agency employees against battery while performing their official duties.

• Updates sentencing provisions in Section 12-4 to include private social service agency employees in enhanced penalty categories for aggravated battery against protected classes of workers.

• Maintains existing protections for peace officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, teachers, utility workers, and other specified public employees when assaulted or battered while performing official duties.