The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 419 on crimes against health care providers authored by Sen. Carrasco. The bill:
- defines “health care provider.”
- provides that the offense of battery is a Level 6 felony if it is committed against a health care provider while the health care provider is acting within the scope of the health care provider’s duties.
- provides that the offense of battery is a Level 5 felony if it is committed against a health care provider while the health care provider is acting within the scope of the health care provider’s duties and: (1) it results in bodily injury to the health care provider; or (2) the person places bodily fluids or waste on the health care provider, and
- provides that the offense of intimidation is a Level 5 felony if the subject of the threat or the person to whom the threat is communicated is a health care provider and the threat relates to the person’s status as a health care provider.
The bill was amended by consent to provide, for purposes of criminal statutes regarding offenses involving critical infrastructure, that a communications services facility includes wires and equipment used to provide communications service to a customer.
The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Indiana Hospitals Association, Indiana Organizations of Nurse Leaders, Indiana State Nurses Association, Indiana University Health, Indiana Optometric Association, and the Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Indiana testified in support of the bill. The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in opposition. The amended bill passed 7-2.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/419