ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2295

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 19, 2026

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2295.

      As reported by the committee, this bill revises the definition of health care professional in the aggravated assault statute to match the definition under the “Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act,” P.L.2023, c.48 (N.J.S.A.2C:12-1a et seq.).

     Currently, under N.J.S.A.2C:12-1, aggravated assault of a health worker occurs when a person commits an assault on “any health care worker employed by a licensed health care facility to provide direct patient care, any health care professional licensed or otherwise authorized pursuant to Title 26 or Title 45 of the Revised Statutes to practice a health care profession, except a direct care worker at a State or county psychiatric hospital or State developmental center or veterans' memorial home, while clearly identifiable as being engaged in the duties of providing direct patient care or practicing the health care profession.”

      Under the “Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act,” a person convicted of assaulting a health care professional is required to complete an anger management course and community service.  Under the “Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act,” a health care professional is “any health care professional, volunteer working for a health care professional or working at a health care facility, supportive services staff member working for a health care professional or working at a health care facility, or employee of a health care professional or health care facility, while the health care professional, volunteer, supportive services staff member, or employee is performing official duties.”  This bill would amend the definition of health care professional under N.J.S.A.2C:12-1 (the aggravated assault statute) to mirror that of the “Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act.”

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.