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Bill

A 10629

Requires the use of metal detectors at all general hospital public entrances

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Cunningham and 2 co-sponsors

Hospitals must implement a workplace violence safety plan including metal detectors at all public entrances to reduce risks to staff.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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Bill Summary · A 10629

Summary of Bill A.10629 (2025-2026 Session, New York)

Purpose and intent

  • This bill amends the Public Health Law to require general hospitals to implement a workplace violence safety and security plan that, at a minimum, includes the use of metal detectors at all public entrances.
  • The objective is to reduce workplace violence risks for hospital employees and to formalize security measures within hospital operations.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 1: Amendment to Public Health Law, Subdivision 5 of section 2832 (as added by Chapter 618 of the Laws of 2025)
    • Hospitals must implement a comprehensive workplace violence safety and security plan based on findings from ongoing workplace violence assessments and risk reviews.
    • The plan must specify methods to reduce identified risks and may include:
    • Employee training
    • Increased staffing and security
    • Engineering controls (e.g., barriers, lighting, alarms, communication systems)
    • General hospital improvements or modifications
    • Other relevant measures
    • The plan must, at a minimum, require the use of metal detectors at all public hospital entrances.
    • Hospitals must provide:
    • A written, detailed summary of the safety and security plan to employees and, if applicable, to collective bargaining representatives.
    • Information to employees and bargaining representatives on how to report incidents of workplace violence.
    • Summaries of the incident log (appropriately redacted to protect privacy) and trends/analysis with the hospital’s security or safety committee, ensuring data is integrated into the workplace violence assessment process.
  • Section 2: Effective date
    • The act takes effect immediately, with a contingent provision tying the start date to Chapter 618 of the Laws of 2025:
    • If Chapter 618 has not taken effect by the signing date, the act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as Chapter 618 takes effect.

Who is affected

  • General hospitals operating in New York State.
  • Hospital employees and, where applicable, collective bargaining representatives.
  • Hospital security and safety committees or equivalent bodies responsible for workplace violence oversight.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill aligns with a requirement established by Chapter 618 of the Laws of 2025, integrating an immediate effective date while ensuring consistency with the earlier chapter’s timing.
  • Hospitals must continually update the safety and security plan to address newly identified risks and changing conditions, indicating ongoing compliance rather than a one-time mandate.
  • Reporting requirements include:
    • Written summaries of the plan to employees and bargaining representatives
    • Reporting mechanisms for workplace violence incidents
    • Redacted incident logs and data sharing with the hospital safety/security committee

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Operational: Implementation of metal detectors at all public entrances across general hospitals, with associated costs (equipment, staffing, maintenance) and potential throughput impacts.
  • Safety: Enhanced measures intended to deter and detect threats, potentially reducing workplace violence and improving staff safety.
  • Transparency and oversight: Structured reporting and data-sharing requirements to monitor trends and inform ongoing risk assessments.
  • Labor relations: Involvement of employees and collective bargaining representatives in receiving plan information and incident reporting processes.

Note: The summary reflects the bill text as introduced on March 13, 2026, including its reliance on the provisions of Chapter 618 of the Laws of 2025.

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

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