Public safety bill signed into law

SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria’s penalty increase bill for sexual battery in a hospital (AB 848) — was signed into law Friday by Governor Newsom.

Soria’s Medical Safety Chaperone Act (AB 849) was signed into law earlier this week, making her public safety bill package complete.

“These bills bring to light the injustices that are taking place when felony sexual battery is committed by a hospital employee against a patient,” Soria said. “We need to send a message to anyone that would seek to abuse the trust placed in them as medical professionals: this type of behavior will never be tolerated.”