The House Healthcare meeting held on February 28, 2025, focused on a significant legislative proposal aimed at enhancing workplace safety in hospitals across Vermont. The proposed bill outlines a comprehensive workplace violence incident reporting system that hospitals must establish and utilize to document, track, analyze, and evaluate incidents of workplace violence.

The meeting began with a detailed discussion of the bill's provisions. Subsection B mandates that hospitals implement a reporting system to collect data on workplace violence incidents. This data will be crucial for improving safety measures and managing aggressive behaviors through ongoing education and targeted training, such as de-escalation techniques and risk identification.

In Subdivision 2, the bill requires that all hospital employees be informed about the reporting system and receive training on how to report incidents to appropriate authorities, including hospital security and law enforcement. Subsection 3 specifies what the reporting system should track, including the number of reported incidents, those reported to law enforcement, and the number of individuals charged criminally as a result of these incidents.

Subsection C introduces a policy that prohibits discrimination or retaliation against employees who report incidents of workplace violence or participate in investigations. This aims to create a safer environment for staff to voice concerns without fear of repercussions.

Additionally, subsection D requires hospitals to post notices in conspicuous locations, both electronically and in print, to inform patrons that aggressive behavior towards employees will not be tolerated and to highlight the legal consequences of such actions.

Subsection E directs the Agency of Human Services to work with hospitals to identify funding sources and incentives to support workplace violence prevention programs.

The meeting also addressed amendments related to the Certificate of Need (CON) process, stating that expenditures necessary for implementing security plans would be excluded from certain regulations. Hospitals will need to report costs associated with these security plans, including capital investments and operational expenses, as part of their budget submissions to the Green Mountain Care Board.

The proposed bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, pending further discussions and approvals. The meeting concluded with an invitation for questions, indicating ongoing engagement with stakeholders regarding the bill's language and implications for hospital safety.