New Jersey legislators have proposed a measure that would increase penalties for violence and threats against health care workers.
State lawmakers proposed the Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act to protect health care workers against assaults and threats.
The proposed law “will send a clear message that our health care workers must be treated with the respect, decency and civility they deserve,” New Jersey Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Palmyra) told the Courier Post.
According to Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Vorhees), there has been an increase in attacks against health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the proposed act, threats against a health care worker or any employee at a health care facility would be treated as a disorderly persons offense.
People who are convicted of the offense could be punished with imprisonment of up to six months and/or a fine of up to $1,000. The measure would also provide additional penalties for assault by allowing courts to authorize an anger management course or 30 days of community service for defendants.
