Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act

Bill: 114-hr-5571
Sponsor: Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-23]
Introduced: 2016-06-22 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Evidence and witnesses
Genetics
Law enforcement administration and funding
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: 

Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish statutory rights for sexual assault survivors, including the right to: (1) receive a forensic medical examination at no cost; (2) have a sexual assault evidence collection kit (i.e., rape kit) preserved for the maximum applicable statute of limitations; (3) receive written notification prior to destruction or disposal of a rape kit; and (4) be informed of the rights and policies under this section.
 
Additionally, it makes statutory crime victims' rights applicable to sexual assault survivors.
 
The bill amends the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 to include information about sexual assault services, programs, and providers in the description of services provided to victims.
 
The bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Office of Justice Programs to make grants to states to develop sexual assault survivors' rights and policies and to disseminate written notice of such rights and policies to medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual assault service providers, law enforcement agencies, and other state entities.
 
DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must establish a joint working group to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.
 
For purposes of this bill, the term &quot;sexual assault survivor&quot; includes a legal representative acting on behalf of a deceased victim of sexual assault.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: 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 Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: 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 Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: 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 Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: Introduced in House