This bill aims to enhance the rights and information available to sexual assault survivors by amending existing laws. It defines "sexual assault survivor" to include individuals who assert they have been subjected to specific offenses, such as penetrative or non-penetrative sexual assault, and ensures that survivors are not denied their rights due to a lack of legal terminology knowledge. Key rights established include the right to receive a medical examination without charge, the preservation of sexual assault evidence collection kits for a specified duration, and the right to be informed about the results of such kits and the policies governing their collection and preservation. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Attorney General's office provide clear documentation of these rights and policies on its website and requires health care providers and law enforcement to inform survivors of their rights.

The bill also introduces new provisions for the Department of Justice to create standardized protocols for handling sexual assault evidence and domestic violence cases. It requires the department to summarize and disseminate information regarding these protocols to ensure accessibility for survivors and the general public. The implementation of this bill is expected to incur significant costs, including the need for additional sexual assault evidence collection kits and potential staffing increases within the Department of Justice, with estimated expenditures reaching over $1 million annually. However, the bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions to cover these costs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-M:18, 21-M:19, 21-M:8-d
HB1633 text: 21-M:18, 21-M:19, 21-M:8-d