SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 977 authored by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, a bill sponsored by the California Medical Assocition (CMA) to protect health care workers while at work in emergency departments.

“California has some of the strongest protections for health care workers, and now these workers will be provided equal protection while in the emergency room as they are provided outside a hospital,” said CMA President Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D. “Thank you Governor Newsom, Assemblymember Rodriguez, and the Legislature for having the backs of health care workers across the state.”

“Threats and violence against physicians and health care workers have increased in recent years,” said emergency physician Adam Dougherty, M.D. “AB 977 goes a long way toward ensuring the safety of employees and patients in emergency departments.” 

Previously, assaults against health care workers inside an emergency department carried lesser penalties than assaults committed outside an emergency department. This bill will ensure that health care workers are not treated differently simply because they work in a hospital emergency department.

AB 977 was part of CMA’s priority bill package for the 2024 legislative session.