Sen. Ward's Bill Becomes Law

A bill signed into law today will strengthen penalties for assaults against healthcare practitioners and technicians, according to the measure’s author, state Sen. Judy Ward (R-30).

Existing state law provides stiffer penalties for assaults against certain healthcare professionals, including doctors, residents, nurses and paramedics.

Act 51 of 2020 will extend the same protections to a broader range of healthcare practitioners and healthcare technicians.

Under the new law, the penalty for an assault against a healthcare practitioner in which there is bodily injury would be upgraded from a misd...