2024 -- H 7632

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LC005171

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, J. Brien, Messier, Chippendale, Kennedy,
and Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2024

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-5-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-5 entitled "Assaults" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-5-16. Assault of health care providers or emergency services medical personnel.

     (a) Any person who shall knowingly and willfully assault a health care provider and/or

emergency medical services personnel while that provider is engaged in providing health care

services shall be deemed to have committed a felony, and may be imprisoned no more than three

(3) years and fined not more than fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500), or both.

     (b) The following terms, as used in this section, are defined as follows:

     (1) “Health care provider” has the same meaning as defined in § 5-37.3-3 and includes any

personnel directed by them.

     (2) “Emergency medical services personnel” means anyone who provides emergency

medical transportation services and anyone directed by them.

     (3) “Health care services” has the same meaning as defined in § 5-37.3-3 and includes any

personnel directed by them.

     (c) For any healthcare employee, who is the victim of assault or assault and battery in the

line of duty shall be given the option of providing either the individual's home address, the address

of the health care facility where the assault or assault and battery occurred, the address of a labor

organization who is representing the employee, if so requested by the employee, or by requesting

a judge to impound the individual's home address. The individual may also have their name and

home addresses impounded from other public records, including voter rolls.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS

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     This act would permit any healthcare employee who is assaulted during and in relation to

their employment to have the option of having their home address, place of employment, voter roll

information and any information related to any labor organization with which they are associated,

impounded from public records.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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