| TO: | Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1393 by Wentworth (Relating to hospital emergency services for sexual assault survivors.), As Introduced |
The bill would add a section to the Health and Safety Code that would delineate services hospitals must offer when providing emergency services to survivors of sexual assault. The bill would take effect September 1, 2003.
The Texas Department of Health reports it would have to revise rules governing general hospitals as part of implementation of the provisions of the bill. The agency estimates that associated costs for rules revision could be absorbed using existing resources.
Generally, the investigating law enforcement agency pays for forensic medical tests in cases of sexual assault, and the victim or their insurance pays for other medical treatment required as a result of the assault. Provisions of the bill are not expected to significantly increase the number of forensic tests conducted and paid for by law enforcement agencies.
The requirements set out in the bill for services a hospital would be expected to offer are already in place in most hospitals, whether county/municipally owned or private, and would not create a significant cost if the services are not already routine.
| Source Agencies: | 501 Department of Health
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| LBB Staff: | JK, EB, DLBa
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