HOUSE BILL NO. 6159

September 02, 2020, Introduced by Rep. Hauck and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

A bill to provide immunity for health care providers and health care facilities in the event of a pandemic; and to clarify the time frame for the immunity.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "pandemic health care immunity act".

Sec. 3. As used in this act:

(a) "Gross negligence" means conduct so reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury results.

(b) "Health care facility" means an entity that is 1 or more of the following, and includes any administrators, executives, supervisors, board members, trustees, employees, and volunteers of that entity:

(i) A health facility or agency as defined in section 20106 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.20106.

(ii) A state-owned surgical center.

(iii) A state-operated outpatient facility.

(iv) A state-operated veterans facility.

(v) A facility used as surge capacity for any of the health care facilities described in this subdivision.

(vi) Any other entity that renders health care services.

(c) "Health care provider" means an individual that is 1 or more of the following:

(i) An individual licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized to engage in a health profession under article 15 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838.

(ii) Emergency medical services personnel as defined in section 20904 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.20904.

(iii) A student, trainee, volunteer, competency-evaluated nursing assistant, temporary nurse aide, or any other licensed, registered, or unlicensed individual otherwise authorized by law, executive order, or directive of this state to render health care services.

(d) "Health care services" means services provided to an individual by a health care facility or health care provider regardless of the location where those services are provided, including the provision of health care services via telehealth or other remote method.

(e) "Willful misconduct" means conduct or a failure to act that was intended to cause harm.

Sec. 5. A health care provider or health care facility that provides health care services in support of this state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is not liable for an injury, including death, sustained by an individual by reason of those services, regardless of how, under what circumstances, or by what cause those injuries are sustained, unless it is established that the provision of the services constituted willful misconduct, gross negligence, intentional and willful criminal misconduct, or intentional infliction of harm by the health care provider or health care facility.

Sec. 7. The liability protection provided by this act applies retroactively, and applies only after March 9, 2020 and before July 15, 2020.