SECTION 13I. Assault or assault and battery on emergency medical technician, ambulance operator, ambulance attendant or health care provider

Whoever commits an assault or an assault and battery on an emergency medical technician, an ambulance operator, an ambulance attendant or a health care provider as defined in section 1 of chapter 111, while the technician, operator, attendant or provider is treating or transporting a person in the line of duty, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than 90 days nor more than 2 and one-half years or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, or both.