‘Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1832  is enacted to read:

§ 1832.  Safety and security in hospitals

A hospital licensed under this chapter shall, on an annual basis, adopt a safety and security plan to protect the patients, visitors and employees of the hospital from aggressive and violent behavior. The safety and security plan must include a process for hospitals to receive and record incidents and threats of violent behavior occurring at or arising out of employment at the hospital. The safety and security plan must prohibit a representative or employee of the hospital from interfering with a person making a report as provided in the plan.

Sec. 2. Application. The provisions of this Act apply to critical access hospitals as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 7932, subsection 10 beginning on July 1, 2012 and to all other hospitals beginning on January 1, 2012.’