SPONSOR: Sharp (37)
This bill requires any entity that operates an emergency room to provide three hours of annual training on the collection of forensic evidence to all personnel that assist in procedures that involve the collection of forensic evidence in the emergency room.
Any entity that operates an emergency room must possess and maintain a secure storage unit in the emergency room capable of storing forensic evidence collected during the course of treatment of a gunshot wound patient or a stab wound patient.
The bill requires a physician, surgeon, nurse, or other specified health care professional who treats a person for a stabbing wound that is at least one inch deep, to report the wound to local law enforcement. Failure to do so is an infraction.
Any entity operating an emergency room must have access to evidentiary collection kits to be used to collect evidence of a gunshot would or a stabbing wound at least one inch deep. The kits must be developed and made available to emergency rooms by the Department of Health and Senior Services and must include forms and procedures, developed by the Department of Public Safety, for gathering evidence.
This bill is similar to HB 2865 (2024).
Statutes affected: