WISCONSIN — State Senator Tim Carpenter has drafted new legislation that aims to protect healthcare workers amid the pandemic.
The new legislation would enforce severe penalties on anyone who has committed battery or threatened to do so, to a state or local health department official, employee, or a member of that person’s family.
Current law already has causing bodily harm or threatening to cause bodily harm to certain state and local officials and their families as a felony. However, this new legislation would extend that protection to local health department employees and their families.
“We have health care workers doing the best they can do in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and they should never have to face anyone who maybe believes it’s all a hoax,” said Carpenter. “They are doing their jobs – and thank goodness for them in doing so – and they absolutely do not need threats to them or their families. I really can’t believe what I’m hearing and reading.”
The legislation would protect health care workers who have already been threatened as well as poll workers and local officials who helped with the election.
"If you cause bodily harm or threaten to do so to a local health care worker or election official, or one of their family members, you are going to pay a steep price,” Carpenter said.
