Bill No. 2606 establishes a five-year Domestic Violence Forensic Exam Pilot Program, which will be developed and implemented by the District Attorneys Council, contingent upon available funding. The program aims to provide counties with qualified licensed health care professionals to conduct forensic exams for victims of domestic violence. Additionally, a Domestic Violence Examination Fund will be created in each participating county to cover the costs of these examinations, with the Crime Victims Compensation Board overseeing the disbursement of funds. The bill defines key terms related to domestic violence, intimate partners, household members, and qualified health care professionals.
The legislation also allows the District Attorneys Council to transfer funds from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund to the Domestic Violence Examination Fund for the payment of forensic exams and grants the Council the authority to enter into contracts and execute necessary documents to implement the program. Furthermore, it specifies that counties with populations over 300,000 can participate, while those with smaller populations may also join if funding permits. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.