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H 3093

Assault and battery on heathcare workers

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Don Chapman and 11 co-sponsors

Expands ABHAN to cover injuries to healthcare workers and emergency responders during official duties, making such assaults a felony up to 20 years.

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: M.M.Smith, Davis
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Bill Summary · H 3093

Summary — H 3093 ("Assault and battery on healthcare workers")

Note up front: the text and metadata provided appear to combine two different measures (a Massachusetts House bill about electronic filing of property valuation forms and a South Carolina amendment to assault-and-battery law). The provisions described below summarize the assault-and-battery language (the portion explicitly amending S.C. Code §16-3-600) that corresponds to the bill title you supplied. Verify the official source and jurisdiction before relying on this summary.

Main purpose

To expand the statutory definition of "assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature" (ABHAN) to include unlawful injuries to healthcare workers and emergency response employees when the injury occurs during, or because of, the performance of their official duties.

Key provisions

  • Amends S.C. Code §16-3-600(B)(1) by adding subsection (c):
    • A person commits ABHAN if the person injured is a "healthcare worker" or "emergency response employee" (as defined in S.C. Code §44-29-230) and the injury occurs during or because of the performance of that person’s official duties.
  • Penalty: ABHAN remains a felony; conviction carries imprisonment of up to 20 years.
  • Clarifies ABHAN is a lesser-included offense of attempted murder under §16-3-29.
  • Standard savings clause: repeal/amendment does not affect pending actions or vested rights; prior law remains in force for existing proceedings as necessary.
  • Effective date: upon approval by the Governor.

Who is affected

  • Primary protected groups: healthcare workers and emergency response employees (definitions depend on §44-29-230).
  • Defendants: persons who injure individuals in those roles while the workers are performing or because of their official duties — may face felony prosecution and enhanced sentencing.
  • Prosecutors and courts: gain an explicit statutory basis to charge ABHAN in relevant cases.
  • Employers and institutions (hospitals, EMS, fire, law enforcement): may see increased legal recourse for staff assaults.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The text indicates the act takes effect upon gubernatorial approval.
  • The bill text includes a savings clause preserving pending actions under prior law.
  • Because the provided file mixes jurisdictions (Massachusetts metadata and South Carolina statute), confirm the bill number, chamber, and state to determine the correct legislative status and schedule.

Potential practical effects (neutral)

  • Makes it easier to prosecute and seek felony penalties when healthcare or emergency workers are injured on duty.
  • Relies on cross-referenced statutory definitions to determine who qualifies as a protected worker.
  • May increase use of ABHAN charges in cases involving assaults on these workers; charging decisions and evidentiary showing (that injury occurred during or because of duties) will be determinative.

If you want, I can:
- Draft a short one-page explainer for employers and healthcare facilities about how the change would affect reporting and prosecution; or
- Verify the bill’s official status and jurisdiction if you provide a source link or clarify which state’s H 3093 you intend.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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