SB 970

Under current law, the crime of battery is defined as intentionally causing

another person bodily harm and is a Class A misdemeanor. Under current law, if the

battery is a special circumstance battery—for example, the battery is committed by

a prisoner or against certain individuals because of the individual's professional

status—the penalty is increased. Under current law, it is a Class H felony to commit

a battery against a nurse, an emergency medical care provider, or a person who is

working in an emergency department.

Under this bill, it is a Class H felony to commit a battery against a person who

is a health care provider, a staff member of a health care facility, or a family member

of a health care provider or staff member, or to threaten such a person, if the battery

or threat is in response to an action taken by the health care provider in his or her

official capacity, or in response to something that happened at the health care facility.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report.