I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5578 
To establish certain rights for sexual assault survivors, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 24, 2016 
Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California (for herself, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. GOOD-
LATTE, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. GOWDY, Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania, Ms. 
JACKSON LEE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mrs. BROOKS of Indi-
ana, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. RICHMOND, Ms. NORTON, Mrs. COMSTOCK, Ms. 
STEFANIK, Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER, Mr. COHEN, Mr. KEATING, Mr. 
BEYER, Mr. JEFFRIES, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. TSONGAS, Mr. 
LOWENTHAL, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. DELBENE, 
and Mr. FARR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish certain rights for sexual assault survivors, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Survivors’ Bill of 
Rights Act of 2016’’. 
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SEC. 2. SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS’ RIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part II of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by adding after chapter 237 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘CHAPTER 238—SEXUAL ASSAULT 
SURVIVORS’ RIGHTS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘3772. Sexual assault survivors’ rights. 
‘‘§ 3772. Sexual assault survivors’ rights 
‘‘(a) RIGHTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS.—In 
addition to those rights provided in section 3771, a sexual 
assault survivor has the following rights: 
‘‘(1) The right not to be prevented from, or 
charged for, receiving a medical forensic examina-
tion. 
‘‘(2) The right to— 
‘‘(A) subject to paragraph (3), have a sex-
ual assault evidence collection kit or its pro-
bative contents preserved, without charge, for 
the duration of the maximum applicable statute 
of limitations or 20 years, whichever is shorter; 
‘‘(B) be informed of any result of a sexual 
assault evidence collection kit, including a DNA 
profile match, toxicology report, or other infor-
mation collected as part of a medical forensic 
examination, if such disclosure would not im-
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pede or compromise an ongoing investigation; 
and 
‘‘(C) be informed in writing of policies gov-
erning the collection and preservation of a sex-
ual assault evidence collection kit. 
‘‘(3) The right to— 
‘‘(A) upon written request, receive written 
notification from the appropriate official with 
custody not later than 60 days before the date 
of the intended destruction or disposal; and 
‘‘(B) upon written request, be granted fur-
ther preservation of the kit or its probative con-
tents. 
‘‘(4) The right to be informed of the rights 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY.—Subsections (b) through (f) of 
section 3771 shall apply to sexual assault survivors. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘sexual assault’ means any nonconsensual 
sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, in-
cluding when the victim lacks capacity to consent. 
‘‘(d) FUNDING.—This section, other than paragraphs 
(2)(A) and (3)(B) of subsection (a), shall be carried out 
using funds made available under section 1402(d)(3)(A)(i) 
of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 
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10601(d)(3)(A)(i)). No additional funds are authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.— 
The table of chapters for part II of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘238. Sexual assault survivors’ rights ....................................... 3772’’. 
(c) AMENDMENT TO VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT OF 
1984.—Section 1402(d)(3)(A)(i) of the Victims of Crime 
Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601(d)(3)(A)(i)) is amended by 
inserting after ‘‘section 3771’’ the following: ‘‘or section 
3772, as it relates to direct services,’’. 
SEC. 
3. 
SEXUAL 
ASSAULT 
SURVIVORS’ 
NOTIFICATION 
GRANTS. 
The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 is amended by 
adding after section 1404E (42 U.S.C. 10603e) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 1404F. SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS’ NOTIFICATION 
GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may make 
grants as provided in section 1404(c)(1)(A) to States to 
develop and disseminate to entities described in subsection 
(c)(1) of this section written notice of applicable rights 
and policies for sexual assault survivors. 
‘‘(b) NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS.—Each recipient of 
a grant awarded under subsection (a) shall make its best 
effort to ensure that each entity described in subsection 
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(c)(1) provides individuals who identify as a survivor of 
a sexual assault, and who consent to receiving such infor-
mation, with written notice of applicable rights and poli-
cies regarding— 
‘‘(1) the right not to be charged fees for or oth-
erwise prevented from pursuing a sexual assault evi-
dence collection kit; 
‘‘(2) the right to have a sexual assault medical 
forensic examination regardless of whether the sur-
vivor reports to or cooperates with law enforcement; 
‘‘(3) the availability of a sexual assault advo-
cate; 
‘‘(4) the availability of protective orders and 
policies related to their enforcement; 
‘‘(5) policies regarding the storage, preserva-
tion, and disposal of sexual assault evidence collec-
tion kits; 
‘‘(6) the process, if any, to request preservation 
of sexual assault evidence collection kits or the pro-
bative evidence from such kits; and 
‘‘(7) the availability of victim compensation and 
restitution. 
‘‘(c) DISSEMINATION OF WRITTEN NOTICE.—Each 
recipient of a grant awarded under subsection (a) shall— 
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