H.F. 4693 Summary

• Grants criminal, civil, and administrative immunity to health care responders acting in good faith while providing health care services during the COVID-19 peacetime public health emergency declared by the governor.

• Defines "responders" broadly to include hospital and clinic staff, long-term care facility employees, home care providers, pharmacists, dentists, emergency medical technicians, ambulance personnel, and other health-related workers, whether paid or volunteer.

• Immunity covers acts or omissions related to diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of COVID-19, assessment of suspected cases, and care provided during the emergency, including provision, allocation, withdrawal, or delaying of health care services.

• Immunity does not apply if harm was caused by intentional or reckless misconduct or gross negligence; acts or omissions resulting from resource or staffing shortages are explicitly excluded from constituting gross negligence.

• Takes effect the day following final enactment and applies retroactively to acts or omissions occurring on or after March 13, 2020.