Exempts simple assault on health care worker at psychiatric screening center from being automatically upgraded to aggravated assault under certain circumstances.

S 3601 would amend New Jersey's assault law to exempt simple assaults against health care workers at psychiatric screening centers from automatically being classified as aggravated assault. Currently, simple assault on health care workers (as defined in the law) is automatically upgraded to aggravated assault, but this bill creates a specific exception for incidents occurring at psychiatric screening centers. The exemption applies to health care workers employed at such facilities who provide direct patient care. As a result, these assaults would remain simple assaults unless additional aggravating factors are proven.