Interviews shed light on how the House passed a bill with stiffer penalties for assaults on health care workers, but supporters’ last-minute efforts failed in the Senate. The bill had sparked concerns it would cause further criminalization of mental illness.
March 10, 2022
Image
A bill to increase the penalties for assaulting hospital workers died on the desk of Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, who has long championed equity in mental health services.
|
JONATHAN HOUSE/PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP
With broad support from health care workers and executives, a bill stiffening penalties for assaulting hospital employees looked like it would cros
