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Bill

HB 1475

CRIM CD-AGG BAT-HLTH CARE WKR

104th Regular Session Introduced by Tony McCombie and 1 co-sponsor

Illinois bill creates aggravated battery offense with enhanced penalties for attacks on healthcare workers, deterring workplace violence in medical settings.

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Bill Summary · HB 1475

Legislative bill overview

HB 1475 creates an aggravated battery offense specifically targeting attacks on healthcare workers in Illinois. The bill establishes enhanced criminal penalties for individuals who commit battery against someone they know or should know is a healthcare worker performing their duties.

Why is this important

Healthcare worker assaults have increased significantly in recent years, creating safety concerns in hospitals, clinics, and emergency departments. Enhanced criminal penalties aim to deter violence against medical professionals and acknowledge the vulnerability of healthcare workers during patient interactions.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional scope: Questions about which workers qualify as "healthcare workers" (nurses, doctors, administrators, security staff, etc.) and whether the definition is sufficiently clear for consistent enforcement
  • Evidentiary burden: Determining what constitutes knowledge that someone is a healthcare worker and how prosecutors prove this element, particularly in chaotic emergency situations
  • Proportionality concerns: Whether enhanced penalties for assault on healthcare workers are appropriate compared to assault on other professions (teachers, transit workers, police), raising fairness questions

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

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