SENATE COMMITTEE CLEARS CONAWAY BILL
ENSURING SAFETY OF HEALTH CARE FACILITY EMPLOYEES

(TRENTON) - A Senate panel today released legislation Assemblyman Herb Conaway, MD, sponsored to improve safety conditions for employees at New Jersey's health care facilities.

"Many health care workers knowingly put themselves in potentially dangerous situations because of their dedication to their jobs and to their patients," said Conaway (D-Burlington/Camden), a practicing physician.  "Safeguards are needed to help ensure that instances of violence do not distract health care workers from their key mission of providing patient care."

The "Violence Prevention in Health Care Facilities Act" (A-3027/S-1761) would establish programs to protect health care workers from physical assault or threatening situations.  The programs would be created mutually by the state Department of Health and Senior Services, psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and health-care service firms regulated by the Division of Consumer Affairs. 

The bill also would improve methods and regulations for incident record keeping, violence identification, and a post-incident response system, replete with an in-house crisis response team and counseling. Health care facilities would be prevented from retaliating against any health care worker for reporting an incident.

The measure also is sponsored by Assembly members Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), Joan Voss (D-Bergen), and Joseph Vas (D-Middlesex).

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee released the bill, which now is poised for a possible Senate floor vote.

-- 30 --