SANE Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-602
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
Introduced: 2025-01-22
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Health care coverage and access

Health personnel

Mental health

Sex offenses

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-22
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in VA Hospitals Act of 2025 or the SANE Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to employ at each of its hospitals and urgent care facilities at least one sexual assault nurse examiner or a health care provider who is qualified to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination.</p><p>The bill also provides that after examining an individual for sexual assault, a VA health care provider must verbally refer the individual to mental health care services furnished by the VA in a VA hospital or by a non-VA provider under the Veterans Community Care Program if the wait time for services at a VA hospital exceeds 30 days.</p><p>In providing such duties related to sexual assault care, the VA must ensure that there is no reduction in, or negative effect on, the patient care responsibilities otherwise carried out by its employees.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 602 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 22, 2025 Mr. Burchett (for himself, Mr. Kennedy of New York , Mrs. Luna , Mr. Moskowitz , Ms. Mace , and Mr. Davis of North Carolina ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that sexual assault nurse examiners are employed at certain Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in VA Hospitals Act of 2025 or the SANE Act of 2025 . 2. Qualifications of health care providers who perform sexual assault examinations at certain Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall employ, at each hospital and urgent care facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs— (1) at least one sexual assault nurse examiner; or (2) if the Secretary cannot so employ a sexual assault nurse examiner, a health care provider qualified to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination. (b) Mental health care referral After examining an individual for sexual assault, a health care provider of the Department shall verbally refer the individual to mental health care services furnished by the Secretary— (1) in a hospital of the Department; or (2) pursuant to a Veterans Care Agreement under section 1703A of title 38, United States Code, if the wait time for services described in paragraph (1) exceeds 30 days. (c) Dedicated responsibilities In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that there is no reduction in, or negative effect on, the patient care responsibilities that are otherwise carried out by employees of the Department. (d) Definitions In this section, the terms sexual assault nurse examiner and sexual assault forensic examination have the meanings given such terms in section 304(a) of the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004 ( 34 U.S.C. 40723(a) ).