Legislation passed by the House would protect the men and women who save lives daily, according to state Rep. Marian Cooksey.House Bill 1360, by Cooksey, R-Edmond, would allow prosecutors to bring felony charges against anyone who assaults an emergency medical technician (EMT) while they are performing medical care duties.
“Why would anyone want to attack the very people who save our lives,” Cooksey said. “We need to ensure our EMTS are given better legal protections.
According to medicinstitute.org, there were 14 assaults on EMTs last year that resulted in serious injury in Oklahoma. There were six assaults in Oklahoma City and eight in Tulsa.
A study conducted in 1999 concluded that during 12 years of service, EMTs received an average of nine assaults each year; and 92 percent of responding EMTs had been assaulted at some point while performing their duties.
Cooksey said that number should be zero and hopes her bill will put an end to the assaults.
HB 1360 increases the penalty for assaulting an emergency care provider to up to two years in prison.
HB 1360 was approved unanimously by the House and will now proceed to the Senate.
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