The Senate Resolution urges the Louisiana Department of Health and the attorney general to address the critical shortage of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE nurses) in the state. Currently, Louisiana has only 100 SANE nurses, with just 53 fully certified, which is insufficient to meet the needs of sexual assault survivors, particularly in rural areas. The resolution highlights the delays in care that survivors face, often waiting five to six hours for specialized support, and emphasizes the importance of having trained professionals conduct forensic medical examinations to ensure timely and appropriate care.

To tackle this issue, the resolution calls for a collaborative effort between the Louisiana Department of Health, the attorney general, and various stakeholders to identify strategies for increasing the number of SANE nurses. It also requests an assessment of the current sexual assault response plan and employment model for SANE nurses to enhance access to their services. Additionally, the attorney general is encouraged to seek grant funding to support the statewide coordination of SANE nurses, particularly focusing on improving access in rural regions.