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House Bill 4531 |
House Author: Neave et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-19 |
Senate Sponsor: Zaffirini |
House Bill 4531 amends the Estates Code, Government Code, and Health and Safety Code to set out provisions relating to rights and protections for certain adult sexual assault survivors. Among other provisions, the bill authorizes a ward to make decisions related to sexual assault crisis services, provides guidelines on who may consent to the provision of a forensic medical examination and treatment to an adult sexual assault survivor for whom a guardian is appointed or who is incapable of consenting to the examination or treatment, and revises provisions governing consent for the release of certain confidential information and evidence regarding a survivor for whom a guardian is appointed. The bill prohibits contact by a health care facility with a survivor's legal agent and the disclosure of certain confidential information under the Sexual Assault Prevention and Crisis Services Act to a guardian of a survivor if an applicable person knows or has reason to believe that the legal agent or guardian, as applicable, is a suspect or accomplice in the sexual assault of the survivor.