Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act clears House, community updates, and more!

Rep. Leanne Krueger May 6, 2025 | 6:04 PM

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Dear Neighbor,

I am so proud to share with you that today my bill, HB926, the Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act, passed the PA House of Representatives. While it still needs to go to the PA Senate for consideration before it becomes law, getting it through the PA House is the first step in formally addressing workplace violence faced by the health care industry. I’ve been working on this bill since 2019 and it’s the first time we ever got a floor vote.

Violence occurring in the workplace is more prevalent in the health care industry than in any other industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care workers accounted for 73% of all non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence in 2018 alone (the most recent year for which these statistics are available).

In 2024, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals surveyed their members and found that 66% of them reported personally experiencing violence in the workplace. Just three years prior, that number was 50%.

The Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act addresses this issue in the following ways:

Defines workplace violence as the violence or threat of violence against an employee.
Requires a health facility to establish a Workplace Violence Prevention Committee that will
- create, review, administer, and provide guidance on programs relating to the prevention of workplace violence at Commonwealth healthcare facilities.
- perform a risk assessment. The bill provides that an outside consultant may be used, at the facility’s expense, to conduct the risk assessment.
- meet quarterly to review all cases of workplace violence and to perform duties as required.
Requires facilities to provide paid time off for employees serving on the Violence Prevention Committee.
Requires facilities to offer post-incident care including acute care and mental health services for employees.
Protects employees and other health care providers by enhancing protections against retaliation for employees while discouraging the filing of complaints made in bad faith.
Requires facilities to display signage indicating that assaulting a health care worker is a felony.

We have a duty to keep our health care workers safe at work and give them a seat at the table in the process, and the Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act finally adds required standards or processes to address healthcare workplace violence in PA.

Crozer Update

On Friday evening, the last patient was transferred out of Crozer-Chester Medical Center by Prospect. We got a number of calls from family members and nurses about patients who they were concerned wouldn’t get transferred safely so we kept very close track of those patients with the Department of Health until the last one was transferred on Thursday evening. Last Wednesday the bankruptcy judge in Texas held another hearing but she did not take any actions to hold Prospect accountable. My colleagues and I worked with County Council to get a letter entered into the record before the hearing asking her to require Prospect to pay for ambulance coverage at Crozer-Chester Medical Center for 16 weeks post-closing and do everything within her power during the bankruptcy proceedings to claw back the $40 million which has been invested after Prospect declared bankruptcy in January to prevent a closure. While there was discussion of the ambulance need during the hearing, she did not put any requirements on Prospect.

Our focus now turns to the employees who have lost their jobs to make sure they get the support they need in seeking employment and getting unemployment and health insurance in the meantime. Delaware County opened a Crozer Transition Center yesterday that will provide help with job searches as well as unemployment compensation guidance and health insurance enrollment. Widener is hosting three virtual job fairs this week and PA CareerLink Delaware County and the County’s Workforce Development team are hosting a Crozer Job and Resource Fair on May 13.

Prospect is still not communicating well with us so we’re not yet sure when they will put the buildings up for sale, or what happened with the ambulatory surgical centers that they put out to bid. I’ll continue to follow the bankruptcy proceedings in Texas and report back.

AT THE CAPITOL

Watch the videos below to hear me and my colleagues speak about the Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act, HB926.

IN THE DISTRICT

Thank you for attending my Senior Wills Clinic

Last Monday, I hosted a Senior Wills Clinic with Senator John Kane, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association in Chester Township.

Seniors had the opportunity to work with an attorney to get help preparing simple wills, durable Powers of Attorney and healthcare directives.

It's trout stocking season!

Last week, I joined the Delco Anglers and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to stock our local creeks with the trout that our anglers love to catch!

We stocked both the Chester and Ridley Creeks with a lot of brook trout, and even some golden trout.

The Delco Anglers are part of the Pennsylvania Co-op fish hatcheries program and have taught me about the importance of stocking our streams and preserving and expanding fishing for all to enjoy in Delaware County.

Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who came out for a fun day.

If you're interested in joining to help stock our creeks, the next trout stocking event will be on May 9, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. The meeting place is RT 452 at Aston Little League Ball Field.

License Plate Restoration Event

Last week I hosted a License Plate Restoration Event where my office helped 18 people replace their faded and damaged license plate at no cost.

Thank you to the Nether Providence Police for completing paperwork so that folks could get a new, free plate and for managing traffic to keep us all safe.

Delaware County Environmental Expo

On Saturday, I attended the Delco Environmental Expo at Rose Tree Park, hosted by state Sen. Tim Kearney, state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, the Delco Delegation, and PennEnvironment.

Attendees were able to get resources on sustainability, clean energy, and speak with experts on ways to protect our environment.

Celebrating Vivian Lehman

On Sunday, I got to celebrate Vivian Lehman at her Eagle Court of Honor at the Roosevelt Community Center in Middletown Township Delco. Vivian is a founding member of Troop 2019, the first all-girl troop in Minquas District of the Cradle of Liberty Council. Her Eagle Scout Project, a “Garden of Remembrance,” is a sanctuary for the families and friends of youth who passed away too soon. Vivian shows amazing leadership skills, and it was an honor to celebrate with her, her family and her fellow Scouts.

IMPORTANT DATES AND STATE SERVICES

REAL ID enforcement starts

TOMORROW, May 7

REAL ID is optional. If you don’t get one, you’ll need another federally accepted ID, such as a passport or military ID, to board flights and enter certain federal facilities.

If you would like to get your REAL ID and you still have questions about what is needed or the process, reach out to my office for assistance.

Please know that you can still apply for your REAL ID after the May 7 enforcement begins.

To learn more about REAL ID, click on the link below:

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id.html.

Primary Election absentee ballot deadline

May 13, 2025

To request your mail-in-ballot you can click here.

There’s still time to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program!

Application deadline: June 30.

There is still time to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, and my office is available to help! If you have questions about the program or need application assistance, reach out to my office.