[Ord. No. 5486, 2-22-2022]
A.
Except
as otherwise protected by State or federal law, a person, excluding
individuals seeking mental health, psychiatric, or psychological care
or any person who is developmentally disabled as defined in Section
630.005, RSMo., commits the offense of interference with a health
care facility if the person willfully or recklessly interferes with
a health care facility or employee of a health care facility by:
1.
Causing a peace disturbance while inside a health care facility;
2.
Refusing an order to vacate a health care facility when requested
to by any employee of the health care facility; or
3.
Inflicting injury or threatening to inflict injury on the patients,
guests, employees, or other business invitees or damage to the property
of a health care facility.
B.
Hospital
policies shall address incidents of workplace violence against employees,
including protecting an employee from retaliation when such employee
complies with hospital policies in seeking assistance or intervention
from local emergency services or law enforcement when a violent incident
occurs.
C.
The offense of interference with a health care facility shall be a misdemeanor for a first offense punishable in accordance with the general penalty, Section 100.150 of the Municipal Code.
D.
As
used in this section, "health care facility" means a hospital that
provides health care services directly to patients.
