Policy Text
Roll Call Training Bulletin
Produced b y: Sergea nt William Conner, PSU Kath erine Lester , Chief of Police
Prepared by: Officer J eff Kuhlmann , PSU Volume 110
Access to Health Care Facilities
6-17-2022
On June 14, 2022, the Sacramento City Council adopted an ordinance as an “emergency measure” to confirm
that every person in the City of Sacramento has “the right to seek and obtain all health care services perm itted
under the laws of this state .”
Sacramento City Code (SCC) 12.96.020 aims t o protect individuals seeking to enter or exit health care
facilities , as defined, from harassment, intim idation , and/or obstruction . In general terms , within 100 ’ of the
entrance door to a healthcare facility , the conduc t of persons and gatherings is restricted to consensual
interactions. If an interaction within this space is not consensual, and done for the p urposes of “harassing or
intim idating ,” it must be done at a dist ance greater than 8 ’ away . The City Code prohibits p ersons or
gatherings from approach ing an individual or vehicle occupant within 8 ’ when the individual or vehicle occupant
is seeking to enter or ex it the facility and are within 100 ’ of it. Additionally, SCC 12.96.020 prohibits a person
or gathering fro m obstructing, as defined in th e ordinance, access to or departure from any entrance door to, or
any driveway of, a facility.
Any enforc ement of this code shall follow the guide lines below .
Enforcement Guidelines
• Peace officers should consider enforc ing any other applicable laws (Penal Code, City Code, etc.)
before enforcin g SCC 12.96.020 .
• Prior to taking any enforcement action related to SCC 12.96. 020, peace officers shall make contact with
the distric t sergeant.
• Enforcement of this law shall o nly be made pursuant to a signed citizens’ arres t.
• If the opportunity presents itself, officers should provide warnings and education information to
community memb ers about this ordinance.
Prohibition Against Harassment or Intimida tion
• Within 100’ of the entrance door to a health care facility ;
• No person shall willfully and knowingly approach within 8’ an individual seeking to ente r or exit;
• Without the consent of th e individ ual;
• For the purpose of harassing o r intimidat ing the individual ;
• This restriction also applies if the individua l is the occupant of a vehicle en tering or exiting the parking
lot of such a facility , if within the 100’ distance above ;
• The 8 ’ distances shall be measured ;
• From any extension of the body o f the individual seeking to enter or exit the facility;
• Or the exterior of the occup ied vehicle seekin g to enter or exit the p arking lot of the facili ty;
• To any extension of the body , or any sign or object held by the person otherw ise subject to
enforcemen t.
Roll Call Training Bulletin
Prod uced b y: Sergeant William Co nner, PSU Kath erine Lester , Chief of Police
Prepar ed by: Officer Jeff Kuhlmann , PSU Volume 110
Definitions
“Harass” means to engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person or persons that alarms,
seriously distresses, torments, or terrorizes the person. Harassment does not include, among other thin gs,
quiet, consensu al conversa tion conducte d from a stationary position. “Harass ” includes, but is not limit ed to:
1. Approaching a person once that person has indicated they do not want to be approached or engage
in conversat ion, except as necessary to en ter or exit the hea lth care facility.
2. Following a person if that conduct is intended or is likely to cau se a reasonable person to fear bodily
harm to oneself or to another, or damage to or loss of property.
3. Intentional ly touching or causing physica l contact with a pe rson; and
4. Using viol ent or threatening gestures toward a person.
“Follow” means to physically pursue a person once that person has indicated verbally or non -verbally that
they do not wish to be approached or engage in conversation.
“Intimidat e” means making a t rue threat direc ted to a person or group of persons with the intent of placing
that person or group of persons in fear of bodily har m or death.
“True threat ” means a statement in which the speaker means to commu nicate a serio us expressio n of an
intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular person or group of persons regardless of wheth er
the person actually intends to act on the threat.
“Health care facility” means any facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 1 (c ommencing with Sect ion 1200) o f
Division 2 of the California Health and Safety Code, any health facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 2
(commencing w ith Section 1250) of Division 2 of the Californi a Health and Safe ty Code, or any facility where
health care services are regul arly provid ed by persons licensed under Division 2 (commencing wit h Section
500) of the California Business and Professions Code, the Osteopathic Initiative Act