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Committee opens bill file to extend Health Care Providers Immunity from Liability Act sunset
Summary
The committee opened a bill file to extend the Health Care Providers Immunity from Liability Act for 10 years after a briefing on the statute that shields licensed health-care professionals who provide gratuitous emergency care in good faith.
The House Business and Labor Interim Committee voted to open a bill file to extend the Health Care Providers Immunity from Liability Act for another 10 years.
What was presented: Staff summarized the statute (Title 58, Chapter 13) and told the committee the law provides civil-immunity protections for health-care professionals who gratuitously provide emergency care in good faith when they are under no legal duty to act. The statute also covers activated medical reserve corps members who serve in declared emergencies and provides a "clear and convincing" standard to overcome immunity where appropriate.
Committee action: Senator Evan Vickers moved to open a committee bill file to extend the sunset for 10 years; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The hospital association and other stakeholders had previously contacted committee members in support of retaining the immunity provisions.
Why this matters: The statute is intended to encourage uncompensated volunteer care during emergencies and to limit civil liability for licensed practitioners acting in good faith. The extension preserves those protections while providing opportunity for further review if stakeholders request changes.
Next steps: Committee staff will draft language for the 10-year extension and consult stakeholders as needed.
