HB 240

Under existing law, there is no provision for a physician, health care professional, health care facility director, administrator, or his or her designee, to report an injury likely caused by a crime or an act of violence

This bill would create the Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act

This bill would require a physician, health care professional, health care facility director, administrator, or a designee, to report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities when any person with a particular injury, wound, or illness is treated

To create the Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act; to require a physician, health care professional, health care facility director, administrator, or his or her designee, to report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities when any person with a particular injury, wound, or illness is treated; to require a treating physician, health care professional, health care facility director, administrator, or his or her designee, to report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities if the injury, wound, or illness appears to be the result of non-accidental trauma; and to provide immunity to a reporting health care official for reporting the treatment of an individual for certain injuries and illnesses.

Section 1

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act.

Section 2

(a) Any wound, injury, or illness consistent with or showing signs of a bullet or gunshot wound, a powder burn, or any other injury arising from, caused by, or appearing to arise from or be caused by, the discharge of a firearm, any illness apparently caused by poisoning, any wound or injury caused, or apparently caused by, a knife or sharp or pointed instrument that results in grave bodily harm or grave illness appearing to the treating physician or health care professional to be the result of a criminal act of violence, shall be reported by the physician, health care professional, or health care facility director or administrator, or his or her designee, before, during, or after completion of treatment of the person suffering from the wound, injury, or illness, to the appropriate law enforcement authority when the injury or illness is treated at any hospital or health care institution or facility in this state. (b) Any report made pursuant to subsection (a) shall include if known, the name, age, sex, and race of the person treated, his or her residential address or current location, and the character and extent of his or her injury, wound, or illness believed to be the result of a criminal act or act of violence. (c) Any physician, health care professional, health care facility director, administrator, or other designated person who, in good faith, makes a report to the appropriate law enforcement authority pursuant to this section is immune from any civil or criminal liability that may otherwise be incurred or imposed as the result of the report.

Section 3

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.