A new bill in the Washington State Legislature, House Bill 1220, proposes to adjust the legal framework surrounding assaults on healthcare providers. The bill would exempt certain behavioral health situations from assault in the third-degree charges, potentially leading to lighter sentences for attackers. Healthcare workers express concerns about the potential for creating a loophole, while proponents argue it recognizes the complexities of mental health crises and avoids unnecessary criminalization.
The Washington State Capitol Campus. A new bill making its way through the Legislature is igniting debate among healthcare workers, particularly nurses and doctors. House Bill 1220 , introduced by several Democratic representatives, seeks to adjust the legal framework surrounding assaults on healthcare providers. The bill would exempt certain behavioral health situations from assault in the third-degree charges — which are currently a felony — when a healthcare provider is attacked.
Representative Darya Farivar , the bill’s main sponsor, emphasized this point during a legislative hearing on Monday. Justin Gill, representing the Washington State Nurses Association, expressed concerns the bill does not directly address the systemic issues causing violence in healthcare settings. She stressed the criminal justice system is not equipped to provide the necessary mental health care and that HB 1220 could help address this gap by avoiding felony charges.
“This bill asserts that patients experiencing a behavioral health crisis are unable to consider the consequences of their actions. This is an assumption, and it is not true of all patients,” Keay said.
Healthcare Legislation Mental Health Assault Bill
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