SB87 clarifies that counties must pay for the complete costs of forensic medical examinations for rape and sexual assault victims, including hospital services, lab tests, medications, and imaging—and specifies that victims don't have to report the crime or cooperate with police to receive this free examination. The bill also requires hospitals and clinics to work with counties to set up payment processes and inform victims that these exams are available at no cost to them.
The amendment makes minor technical and clarifying edits to strengthen protections for sexual assault victims, including changing "must" language to be more mandatory, expanding the definition of covered services from "Physician" to "Provider," and ensuring that forensic medical exams are available free to victims regardless of cooperation with law enforcement. These changes STRENGTHEN the bill's original purpose by making victim protections more explicit and comprehensive.
The amendment removes repeated references to "forensic medical" throughout the bill and clarifies that the law applies to "hospital and clinic" services rather than "physician, hospital, or clinic" services, while also removing a cross-reference to a definition section. These are largely technical and stylistic changes that NARROW the scope slightly by removing physicians as independent providers while maintaining the bill's core purpose of establishing county payment requirements for forensic examinations.
Other amendments
Signed by the Governor S.J. 488
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 477
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 516
Signed by the President S.J. 448
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 65, NAYS 0. H.J. 470
Health and Human Services Certified uncontested, placed on consent
Health and Human Services Do Pass Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 0.
Health and Human Services Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Health and Human Services H.J. 416
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0. S.J. 340
Health and Human Services Certified uncontested, placed on consent S.J. 15
Health and Human Services Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 0. S.J. 15
Health and Human Services Motion to amend S.J. 15
Health and Human Services Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Health and Human Services S.J. 55
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Do Pass Amended
Health and Human Services — Do Pass
Do Pass Amended
Health and Human Services — Do Pass Amended