HF641

Purpose

• To expand the protections of fourth-degree assault to include health care workers in hospital emergency departments, in addition to firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, by updating the statute that defines this crime.

Main Provisions

• The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.2231, subdivision 2, to add new protected groups.
• It makes it a felony to physically assault certain people and incur demonstrable bodily harm while they are performing their duties.
• The protected groups specifically include:
  • a member of a municipal or volunteer fire department or emergency medical services personnel unit, in the performance of their duties, and
  • a physician, nurse, or other person providing health care services in a hospital emergency department, in the performance of their duties.
• The crime is defined as fourth-degree assault with a potential penalty of up to two years in prison or a fine of up to $4,000, or both, for causing demonstrable bodily harm.

Significant Changes to Law

• Expands the existing fourth-degree assault protection beyond first responders to explicitly include health care workers in hospital emergency departments.
• Aligns the penalties for these assaults with the established fourth-degree assault penalties (felony with up to 2 years’ imprisonment and/or up to $4,000 fine).
• Clarifies that the protective provisions apply to individuals while they are performing their official duties.

What this means in practice

• Individuals who physically assault a hospital ED health care worker (or a firefighter/EMS worker) and cause demonstrable bodily harm could be charged as a fourth-degree felon.
• The change aims to deter attacks on front-line health care and public safety personnel by extending similar criminal penalties to these situations.

Relevant Terms - fourth-degree assault - demonstrable bodily harm - felony - imprisonment up to 2 years - fine up to $4,000 - hospital emergency department - physician - nurse - health care services - emergency medical services personnel - fire department - performing duties - Minnesota Statutes 609.2231 - subdivision 2