BILL NUMBER: SB 978CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 136 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 18, 2014 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 18, 2014 PASSED THE SENATE MAY 1, 2014 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JULY 3, 2014 INTRODUCED BY Senator DeSaulnier FEBRUARY 11, 2014 An act to amend Section 264.2 of the Penal Code, relating to rape victims. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 978, DeSaulnier. Rape victims: local rape victim counseling centers: notice. Existing law requires a law enforcement officer assigned to a sexual assault case, or his or her agency, to immediately notify the local rape victim counseling center, whenever a victim of an alleged rape or an alleged violation of other specified sex crimes is transported to a hospital for any medical evidentiary or physical examination. This bill would allow the hospital to notify the local rape victim counseling center when the victim is presented to the hospital for the medical or evidentiary physical examination, upon approval of the victim. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 264.2 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 264.2. (a) Whenever there is an alleged violation or violations of subdivision (e) of Section 243, or Section 261, 261.5, 262, 273.5, 286, 288a, or 289, the law enforcement officer assigned to the case shall immediately provide the victim of the crime with the "Victims of Domestic Violence" card, as specified in subparagraph (G) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (c) of Section 13701. (b) (1) The law enforcement officer, or his or her agency, shall immediately notify the local rape victim counseling center, whenever a victim of an alleged violation of Section 261, 261.5, 262, 286, 288a, or 289 is transported to a hospital for any medical evidentiary or physical examination. The hospital may notify the local rape victim counseling center, when the victim of the alleged violation of Section 261, 261.5, 262, 286, 288a, or 289 is presented to the hospital for the medical or evidentiary physical examination, upon approval of the victim. The victim has the right to have a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, and a support person of the victim's choosing present at any medical evidentiary or physical examination. (2) Prior to the commencement of any initial medical evidentiary or physical examination arising out of a sexual assault, a victim shall be notified orally or in writing by the medical provider that the victim has the right to have present a sexual assault counselor and at least one other support person of the victim's choosing. (3) The hospital may verify with the law enforcement officer, or his or her agency, whether the local rape victim counseling center has been notified, upon the approval of the victim. (4) A support person may be excluded from a medical evidentiary or physical examination if the law enforcement officer or medical provider determines that the presence of that individual would be detrimental to the purpose of the examination.