SF3926

Purpose

This bill aims to protect hospital and clinic security officers by creating a criminal offense for physically assaulting certain health care and public safety workers. It updates the Minnesota statute to include security officers who work in hospitals or clinics and sets penalties for such assaults.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 609.2231, subdivision 2, to address assaults on specific workers.
• If a person physically assaults any of the following while they are performing their duties, the offender is guilty of a gross misdemeanor:
  • a member of a municipal or volunteer fire department
  • a member of an emergency medical services (EMS) personnel unit
  • a physician, nurse, or other person providing health care services in a hospital emergency department
  • a security officer providing services in a hospital or clinic
• If the assault inflicts demonstrable bodily harm, the offender is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to $6,000, or both.

Who is Protected Under the Bill

• Firefighters and emergency medical personnel on duty
• Health care workers (physicians, nurses, and other health care providers) in hospital emergency departments
• Security officers working in hospitals or clinics

Penalties and Enforcement

• Assaults on the listed individuals during the performance of their duties default to a gross misdemeanor.
• If the assault causes demonstrable bodily harm, the offense escalates to a felony with potential penalties of up to 3 years in prison and/or a fine up to $6,000.

Changes to Existing Law

• Expands the protected class in the statute to explicitly include security officers in hospitals and clinics.
• Applies a tiered penalty structure (gross misdemeanor vs. felony with harm) based on the presence of demonstrable bodily harm.

Practical Impact

• Sends a stronger message that assaults on hospital/clinic security staff, as well as other front-line health and public safety workers, will be treated seriously in court.
• Aligns penalties with similar protections for other first responders and health care workers.

Relevant Terms - physically assaults - gross misdemeanor - felony - demonstrable bodily harm - hospital - clinic - security officer - hospital emergency department - physician - nurse - health care services - firefightERs - emergency medical services (EMS) personnel - Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 609.2231 subdivision 2