SAVE Act Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act
Impact
The legislation proposes to authorize federal grants aimed at improving safety measures in healthcare facilities. It includes provisions for programs that will provide training for hospital staff, coordination with law enforcement, and the implementation of security technologies such as surveillance systems and panic buttons. By facilitating these enhancements, the bill aims to reduce incidents of violence, thereby improving workplace conditions for healthcare employees and ensuring better patient care outcomes.
Summary
House Bill 2584, known as the 'Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees Act' or the 'SAVE Act,' aims to enhance the safety of hospital personnel from violence and intimidation. It recognizes that workplace violence against healthcare workers has been a persistent issue, significantly worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill focuses on federal involvement in combating this trend, placing responsibility primarily on state and local authorities for prosecution while calling for increased federal oversight to address the inadequacies of existing laws.
Contention
Notably, the bill will amend existing federal law to introduce stricter penalties for those who assault or intimidate hospital personnel, including fines and potential imprisonment. It also specifies enhanced penalties for crimes involving weapons or resulting in bodily injury. Critics may raise concerns regarding the implications of federal oversight on local hospital policies and the burden of compliance, while supporters argue for the urgent need to prioritize the safety of healthcare workers amidst growing violence in the sector.
Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). The prohibition does not apply to a firearm that is (1) manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, except for certain shotguns; (2) permanently inoperable; (3) an antique; (4) only capable of firing rimfire ammunition; or (5) a rifle or shotgun specifically identified by make and model. The bill also exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD: importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and possession by a retired law enforcement officer. The bill permits continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered SAW, which must be securely stored. A licensed gun dealer must conduct a background check prior to the sale or transfer of a grandfathered SAW between private parties. The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification. Newly manufactured SAWs and LCAFDs must display the date of manufacture. The bill also allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender a SAW or LCAFD under a buy-back program.