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S. 781 115th Congress Senate

Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017

Official title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to limit the liability of health care professionals who volunteer to provide health care services in response to a disaster.

Introduced: March 19, 2018 Introduced by: Bill Cassidy Republican · Louisiana See on congress.gov
Health Civil actions and liabilityDisaster relief and insuranceEmergency medical services and trauma careEvidence and witnesses
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Federal preemptionHealth care qualityHealth personnelLicensing and registrationsSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 30, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 30, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action March 30, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to shield a health care professional from liability under federal or state law for harm caused by any act or omission if: (1) the professional is serving as a volunteer in response to a disaster; and (2) the act or omission occurs during the period of the disaster, in the professional's capacity as a volunteer, and in a good faith belief that the individual being treated is in need of health care services.

This protection from liability does not apply if: (1) the harm was caused by an act or omission constituting willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed; or (2) the professional rendered the health care services under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating drug.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HR 1822 Identical bill Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017
  • HR 6378 Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018
  • HR 1876 Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Democratic 1 Republican 5 Independent 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Jun 14, 2018
 R
Murkowski, Lisa
Alaska · Jun 14, 2018
 R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · May 10, 2018
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · May 10, 2018
 D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Mar 19, 2018
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Mar 12, 2018
 I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Mar 30, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 781: Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-781/
MLA
"S. 781: Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-781/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 781, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-781/.
Markdown link
[S. 781: Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-781/)
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