Save Healthcare Workers Act
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMs. Dean of Pennsylvania (for herself and Mrs. Miller-Meeks) introduced …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act creates federal criminal penalties for assaulting hospital personnel and establishes a grant program to help hospitals prevent workplace violence. The bill addresses the growing problem of violence against healthcare workers, which has increased significantly since 2011 and worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who Benefits and How
Hospital employees and healthcare workers benefit from stronger legal protections, with federal penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for assault (or 20 years if a weapon is used or during a public emergency). Hospitals benefit from access to $25 million annually in federal grants to fund security improvements such as video surveillance, metal detectors, panic buttons, de-escalation training, and coordination with law enforcement. The program runs from 2025 through 2034, providing $250 million total in potential funding. Hospitals in underserved communities receive preferential consideration for grants.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Individuals who assault hospital personnel face significant new federal criminal liability, including fines and imprisonment. Taxpayers bear the cost of the $25 million annual appropriation. Hospitals applying for grants must comply with detailed application requirements, maintain records, and report data to the Attorney General. The Attorney General's office bears new administrative burdens including processing grant applications, ensuring equitable geographic distribution, and submitting annual reports to Congress.
Key Provisions
- Creates federal crime for assaulting hospital personnel with penalties up to 10 years (or 20 years with weapon/injury or during public emergency)
- Includes affirmative defense for defendants whose conduct is a manifestation of a disability
- Authorizes $25 million annually (FY 2025-2034) for hospital violence prevention grants
- Grants can fund security technology (cameras, metal detectors, panic buttons), staff training (de-escalation, mental health crisis response), and law enforcement coordination
- Requires preferential consideration for hospitals in underserved communities and equitable geographic distribution of funds
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology