103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1621
 
Introduced 2/8/2023, by Sen. Jil Tracy
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:



210 ILCS 160/15

 Amends the Health Care Violence Prevention Act. Tasks health care providers with reporting any incident of verbal aggression or physical assault of a health care worker employed by the health care provider in the health care provider's emergency department to the Department of Public Health. Requires the Department to track the information reported to assess each health care provider's progress in systemically limiting the verbal aggression toward and physical assault of health care workers. Requires health care providers to post notice regarding verbal aggression and physical assault of health care workers in each emergency department of the health care provider. Effective immediately.



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A BILL FOR
 


SB1621LRB103 00163 CPF 45168 b



1 AN ACT concerning regulation.


2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3represented in the General Assembly:



4 Section 5. The Health Care Violence Prevention Act is 
5amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

6 (210 ILCS 160/15)

7 Sec. 15. Workplace safety.
8 (a) A health care worker who contacts law enforcement or 
9files a report with law enforcement against a patient or 
10individual because of workplace violence shall provide notice 
11to management of the health care provider by which he or she is 
12employed within 3 days after contacting law enforcement or 
13filing the report.
14 (a-5) A health care provider shall report any incident of 
15verbal aggression or physical assault of a health care worker 
16employed by the health care provider in the health care 
17provider's emergency department to the Department of Public 
18Health. The Department of Public Health shall track 
19information reported under this subsection to assess each 
20health care provider's progress in systemically limiting the 
21verbal aggression toward and physical assault of health care 
22workers. 
23 (b) No management of a health care provider may discourage 
 
 
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1a health care worker from exercising his or her right to 
2contact law enforcement or file a report with law enforcement 
3because of workplace violence.
4 (c) A health care provider that employs a health care 
5worker shall display a notice, either by physical or 
6electronic means, stating that verbal aggression will not be 
7tolerated and physical assault will be reported to law 
8enforcement. The notice shall also be displayed in each 
9emergency department of the health care provider. 
10 (d) The health care provider shall offer immediate 
11post-incident services for a health care worker directly 
12involved in a workplace violence incident caused by patients 
13or their visitors, including acute treatment and access to 
14psychological evaluation.

15(Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21.)


16 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
17becoming law.