To protect the men and women who save lives daily, state Rep. Marian Cooksey has filed legislation that would increase penalties on individuals who assault emergency medical technicians (EMTs).House Bill 1360, by Cooksey, would allow felony charges to be pursued against anyone who assaults an emergency medical care provider who is performing medical care duties.
“Why would anyone want to attack the very people who save our lives?” asked Cooksey, R-Edmond. “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 passed the House Judiciary Committee today. It now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
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