Bill would make hospitals create workplace violence panels

The Texas Senate on Monday received a bill from the state’s House that would require health care facilities to establish workplace violence committees and create written plans to protect workers.

H.B. 326, which passed the House on Friday in a 122-23 vote, would require hospitals, nursing facilities and surgical centers to establish a workplace violence committee tasked with developing a workplace violence prevention plan. The bill would mandate that the committee include at least one direct care nurse and one security staff member among its members.

Under the legislation, the committee would be required to develop a written workplace violence prevention plan that includes a process for responding to an investigating act of violence, and also includes a process for workers to report workplace violence without fear of retaliation.

If signed into law, the legislation would take effect Sept. 1, 2021.