- Brody Fernandez
- (916) 276-3390
- brody.fernandez@asm.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria’s Public Safety bill aimed at protecting hospital patients from sexual battery, passed with bipartisan support by the Public Safety Committee.
“I want to thank my colleagues in the Public Safety Committee for passing my bill AB 848 today. We should all recognize that when you’re under the care of medical professionals, when you’re at a hospital, you should feel safe,” Soria said. “The increased penalty this bill allows will ensure individuals are held accountable for their predatory actions and breach of trust. We need to send a message to anyone that would seek to abuse the trust placed in them as medical professionals, that this type of predatory behavior will not be tolerated.”
AB 848, will increase penalties for felony sexual battery by fraud if the crime took place in a hospital setting.
“We are pleased with today’s outcome from the Public Safety Committee,” said Kim Stone,Legislative Representative for the California District Attorneys Association. “Assemblywoman Soria’s bill allows just sentencing for those medical professionals who betray the trust of their patients for their own sexual gratification. They should be held accountable for the harm they have inflicted on their victims.”
AB 848 will now move into the Assembly Appropriations Committee. For the latest legislative updates and news, please visit our website and our social media handles.
# # #
Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria represents the 27th Assembly District which includes communities in Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties.