| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to information provided to a survivor of sexual assault at |
|
|
a health care facility that is not a SAFE-ready facility. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 323.0051(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The commission shall develop a standard information |
|
|
form for sexual assault survivors who arrive at a health care |
|
|
facility that is not a SAFE-ready facility. The information form |
|
|
must include: |
|
|
(1) information regarding the benefits of a forensic |
|
|
medical examination conducted by a sexual assault forensic |
|
|
examiner; |
|
|
(2) the Internet website address to the commission's |
|
|
list of SAFE-ready facilities that includes the facilities' |
|
|
physical addresses as required by Section 323.008; |
|
|
(3) the following statements: |
|
|
(A) "As a survivor of sexual assault, you have |
|
|
the right to receive a forensic medical examination at this |
|
|
hospital emergency room if you are requesting the examination not |
|
|
later than 120 hours after the assault."; and |
|
|
(B) ["A report to law enforcement is not |
|
|
required, but if you make a report, law enforcement must first |
|
|
authorize the examination."; and |
|
|
[(C)] "Call 1-800-656-HOPE to be connected to a |
|
|
rape crisis center for free and confidential assistance."; and |
|
|
(4) information on the procedure for submitting a |
|
|
complaint against the health care facility. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |