File #: Res 0997-2007    Version: * Name: NYS Legislature to pass legislation increasing the penalty for assaults on Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Civil Service and Labor
On agenda: 8/22/2007
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass legislation increasing the penalty for assaults on Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses.
Sponsors: Bill De Blasio, Kendall Stewart, Gale A. Brewer, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, James F. Gennaro, Vincent J. Gentile, Alan J. Gerson, John C. Liu, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Darlene Mealy, Michael C. Nelson, David I. Weprin, Sara M. Gonzalez
Council Member Sponsors: 14

Res. No. 997

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass legislation increasing the penalty for assaults on Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses.

 

By Council Members de Blasio, Stewart, Brewer, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, Gentile, Gerson, Liu, Mark-Viverito, Mealy, Nelson, Weprin and Gonzalez

 

Whereas, Workplace violence is a serious public safety and health concern, and an increasing problem in healthcare settings; and

Whereas, According to the U.S. Department of Justice, nearly 500,000 nurses per year are victims of violent crime in the workplace; and

Whereas, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social services workers have the highest rate of non-fatal assault injuries in the workplace, and nurses are three times more likely to experience violence than any other professionals; and

Whereas, A study in the Journal of Emergency Nursing reported that 82 percent of nurses surveyed had been assaulted during their careers; and

Whereas, These statistics reflect only a portion of the actual incidents, since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that there is severe underreporting because many healthcare workers believe incidents of assault are part of the job; and

Whereas, Under Current New York State Penal Law, assaults against police officers, firefighters, and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are punished more severely than assaults on the general public, because of the special role these first responders play in protecting the general welfare; and

Whereas, Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses have an equally important role as first responders in protecting the general public; and

Whereas, The New York State Legislature currently has before it a bill (A6186/S3441) that would add attacks on Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses to the same class of assault as attacks on police officers, firefighters, and EMTs; and

Whereas, Enactment of this law would effectively set a standard and send a message that violence against medical professionals is not acceptable and will not be tolerated; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass legislation increasing the penalty for assaults on Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses.

 

LS# 2771

SH

3/23/07