AUGUSTA – Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, introduced a bill Monday that would protect health care workers from violence by increasing the penalties for assaulting a health care worker.
Under current law, assault on emergency medical care providers is a Class C crime. LD 532 would extend the existing law to include all health care workers.
“Workforce shortages are plaguing our health care industry, making it difficult to provide the access to care that our communities need and deserve,” said Stover, a longtime nonprofit health and human services professional who now serves on the Board of Directors at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital. “There are many reasons for these shortages, but one is the distressing level of violence our health care workers face on a regular basis as they take care of patients. This bill sends a message that assaults on our health care workers will not be tolerated.”
Jeff Austin, vice president of the Maine Hospital Association, told the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that 552 violent incidents were reported by 20 Maine hospitals from December 2024 through January 2025.
“At this rate, there are nine incidents of violence every day. Behind each of these data points are hospital employees – nurses, support staff, administrators who are enduring this violence,” said Austin.
The Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a work session on the bill in the coming weeks. At that time, members of the committee will have the opportunity to suggest amendments before voting on a recommendation to the full Legislature.
Stover is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, South Bristol, Southport and Westport Island. She is a member of the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Stover) | 305-965-2744