HB4088 - Relating to safety of persons working in hospitals; declaring an emergency.

19 Co-Sponsors

The Act directs hospitals to take actions with respect to the protection of hospital employees. The Act directs the OHA to administer a grant program. The Act takes effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.9). [Digest: The Act directs hospitals to take actions with respect to the protection of hospital staff.] [The Act directs the OHPB to contract with the OHSU to run a pilot program. The Act directs the OHSU to report on the program by Sept. 1, 2025. (Flesch Readability Score: 65).] Requires hospitals to take certain actions with respect to protecting hospital employees from workplace assaults. Directs hospitals to post signage informing employees of rights and protections regarding workplace assaults. [Requires hospitals to submit an annual report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly and to the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services regarding the status of the hospital's assault prevention and protection program and the results of any root cause analyses conducted by the hospital.] Requires hospitals to file certain reports regarding work-related illnesses and injuries to the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services for posting to the department's website. Expands the crime of assault in the third degree to include causing physical injury to a person working in a hospital while worker is [performing official duties] acting in the course of official duty. [Specifies when a person may not be charged with the crime.] [Requires the Oregon Health Policy Board to enter into an agreement with the Oregon Health and Science University to administer a pilot program for purposes of developing recommendations for establishing a statewide program to train hospital staff on procedures to prevent and respond to incidents of workplace violence.] Requires the Oregon Health Authority to develop and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to eligible hospitals for workplace violence prevention efforts. Establishes the timeline within which the authority must begin distributing grant funds to approved grant applicants. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.