The "Save Healthcare Workers Act" seeks to combat the growing problem of violence against hospital personnel by creating a new federal offense and establishing a grant program. Congress finds that assaults and intimidation against healthcare workers are a serious national issue, disrupting healthcare delivery and increasing employee turnover, and that existing federal law is inadequate to address this problem. The bill asserts that such violence substantially affects interstate commerce, thereby justifying federal intervention.

Specifically, the legislation amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to make it a federal crime to knowingly assault an individual employed by a hospital or a contracting entity, if it interferes with their duties. Penalties for this offense include imprisonment for up to 10 years, or up to 20 years if a deadly weapon is used, bodily injury is inflicted, or the act occurs during a public emergency. An affirmative defense is provided for individuals whose conduct was a direct manifestation of a physical, mental, or intellectual disability.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new grant program under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, authorizing the Attorney General to award funds to hospitals. These grants are intended to reduce violence through various measures, including training hospital personnel in de-escalation and mental health crisis response, coordinating with law enforcement, and implementing security technologies like access control and video surveillance. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $25,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2034 to support these critical safety initiatives.