6 | | - | To amend Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 |
---|
7 | | - | searches and seizures, so as to prohibit the sale of over-the-counter sexual assault evidence2 |
---|
8 | | - | kits; to provide for violation and penalty; to provide for definitions; to amend Title 35 of the3 |
---|
9 | | - | Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to law enforcement officers and agencies, so4 |
---|
10 | | - | as to provide for the creation of the Forensic Medical Examination Advisory Committee; to5 |
---|
11 | | - | provide for composition; to provide for rules; to provide for training protocols regarding6 |
---|
12 | | - | forensic medical examinations; to provide for forensic testing; to provide a short title; to7 |
---|
13 | | - | provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 |
---|
14 | | - | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 |
---|
15 | | - | SECTION 1.10 |
---|
16 | | - | This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Sexual Assault Reform Act of 2025."11 |
---|
17 | | - | SECTION 2.12 |
---|
18 | | - | Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to searches and13 |
---|
19 | | - | seizures, is amended by revising Code Section 17-5-74, relating to unreported sexual assault14 |
---|
20 | | - | H. B. 518 (SUB) |
---|
21 | | - | - 1 - 25 LC 56 0352S |
---|
22 | | - | kits, definitions, state-wide tracking system, requirements, implementation, reporting,15 |
---|
23 | | - | jurisdiction, liability, and regulatory authority, as follows:16 |
---|
24 | | - | "17-5-74.17 |
---|
25 | | - | (a) For the purposes of As used in this Code section, the term:18 |
---|
26 | | - | (1) 'Over-the-counter sexual assault evidence kit' means a sexual assault forensic exam19 |
---|
27 | | - | kit or rape kit that:20 |
---|
28 | | - | (A) Is marketed or presented as a do-it-yourself, over-the-counter, at-home, or21 |
---|
29 | | - | self-collected early evidence kit;22 |
---|
30 | | - | (B) Is offered for sale or as a sample to members of the public; and23 |
---|
31 | | - | (C) Purports to allow an individual to independently collect evidence of a sexual24 |
---|
32 | | - | assault outside of a collecting facility.25 |
---|
33 | | - | (2) 'Unreported' 'unreported' sexual assault kit' means a sexual assault kit collected from26 |
---|
34 | | - | a victim who has consented to the collection of the sexual assault kit but who has not27 |
---|
35 | | - | reported the alleged crime to law enforcement.28 |
---|
36 | | - | (b) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall create and operate a state-wide sexual29 |
---|
37 | | - | assault kit tracking system. The council may contract with state or nonstate entities30 |
---|
38 | | - | including, but not limited to, private software and technology providers, for the creation,31 |
---|
39 | | - | operation, and maintenance of the system.32 |
---|
40 | | - | (c) The state-wide sexual assault kit tracking system shall:33 |
---|
41 | | - | (1) Track the location and status of sexual assault kits throughout the criminal justice34 |
---|
42 | | - | process, including the initial collection in sexual assault forensic examinations performed35 |
---|
43 | | - | at medical facilities, receipt and storage at law enforcement agencies, receipt and analysis36 |
---|
44 | | - | at forensic laboratories, and storage and any destruction after completion of analysis;37 |
---|
45 | | - | (2) Designate sexual assault kits as an unreported sexual assault kit or as a reported38 |
---|
46 | | - | sexual assault kit;39 |
---|
| 8 | + | To amend Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to |
---|
| 9 | + | 1 |
---|
| 10 | + | searches and seizures, so as to authorize the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to create2 |
---|
| 11 | + | and operate a state-wide sexual assault kit tracking system; to provide for definitions; to3 |
---|
| 12 | + | provide for reporting requirements; to prohibit the sale of over-the-counter sexual assault4 |
---|
| 13 | + | kits; to provide for violation and penalty; to provide for civil immunity for certain sexual5 |
---|
| 14 | + | assault forensics personnel; to provide for rules; to amend Title 35 of the Official Code of6 |
---|
| 15 | + | Georgia Annotated, relating to law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to provide for7 |
---|
| 16 | + | the creation of the Forensic Medical Examination Advisory Committee; to provide for8 |
---|
| 17 | + | composition; to provide for rules; to provide for training protocols regarding forensic medical9 |
---|
| 18 | + | examinations; to provide for forensic testing; to provide a short title; to provide for related10 |
---|
| 19 | + | matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.11 |
---|
| 20 | + | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:12 |
---|
| 21 | + | SECTION 1.13 |
---|
| 22 | + | This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Sexual Assault Reform Act of 2025."14 |
---|
| 23 | + | H. B. 518 |
---|
| 24 | + | - 1 - 25 LC 48 1481 |
---|
| 25 | + | SECTION 2. |
---|
| 26 | + | 15 |
---|
| 27 | + | Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to searches and16 |
---|
| 28 | + | seizures, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:17 |
---|
| 29 | + | "17-5-75. |
---|
| 30 | + | 18 |
---|
| 31 | + | (a) As used in this Code section, the term:19 |
---|
| 32 | + | (1) 'Over-the-counter sexual assault evidence kit' means a sexual assault forensic exam20 |
---|
| 33 | + | kit or rape kit that:21 |
---|
| 34 | + | (A) Is marketed or presented as an over-the-counter, at-home, or self-collected early22 |
---|
| 35 | + | evidence kit;23 |
---|
| 36 | + | (B) Is offered for sale or as a sample to members of the public; and24 |
---|
| 37 | + | (C) Purports to allow an individual to independently collect evidence of a sexual25 |
---|
| 38 | + | assault outside of a collecting facility.26 |
---|
| 39 | + | (2) 'Unreported sexual assault kit' means a sexual assault kit collected from a victim who27 |
---|
| 40 | + | has consented to the collection of the sexual assault kit but who has not reported the28 |
---|
| 41 | + | alleged crime to law enforcement.29 |
---|
| 42 | + | (b) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall create and operate a state-wide sexual30 |
---|
| 43 | + | assault kit tracking system. The council may contract with state or out-of-state entities31 |
---|
| 44 | + | including, but not limited to, private software and technology providers, for the creation,32 |
---|
| 45 | + | operation, and maintenance of the system.33 |
---|
| 46 | + | (c) The state-wide sexual assault kit tracking system shall:34 |
---|
| 47 | + | (1) Track the location and status of sexual assault kits throughout the criminal justice35 |
---|
| 48 | + | process, including the initial collection in sexual assault forensic examinations performed36 |
---|
| 49 | + | at medical facilities, receipt and storage at law enforcement agencies, receipt and analysis37 |
---|
| 50 | + | at forensic laboratories, and storage and any destruction after completion of analysis;38 |
---|
| 51 | + | (2) Designate sexual assault kits as unreported or reported;39 |
---|
68 | | - | be submitted on or before December 31, 2022, and subsequent reports are to be submitted59 |
---|
69 | | - | on or before December 31 of each year. Each report shall include the following:60 |
---|
70 | | - | (1) The number of sexual assault kits used by collection sites to conduct forensic medical61 |
---|
71 | | - | examinations of assault victims;62 |
---|
72 | | - | (2) Of the sexual assault kits used by collection sites to conduct forensic medical63 |
---|
73 | | - | examinations, the number of sexual assault kits for which a sexual assault has been64 |
---|
74 | | - | reported to law enforcement, sorted by law enforcement agency;65 |
---|
75 | | - | (3) The average time for each law enforcement agency to collect reported sexual assault66 |
---|
76 | | - | kits from collection sites;67 |
---|
77 | | - | H. B. 518 (SUB) |
---|
78 | | - | - 3 - 25 LC 56 0352S |
---|
79 | | - | (4) Of the sexual assault kits generated for reported cases, the number of sexual assault68 |
---|
80 | | - | kits submitted to a laboratory for forensic testing;69 |
---|
81 | | - | (5) Of the sexual assault kits submitted for forensic testing, the number of kits for which70 |
---|
82 | | - | forensic testing has been completed;71 |
---|
83 | | - | (6) The number of sexual assault kits for which a sexual assault has not been reported72 |
---|
84 | | - | to law enforcement; and73 |
---|
85 | | - | (7) The jurisdictions in which reported sexual assault kits have not been submitted to the74 |
---|
86 | | - | Division of Forensic Services Sciences of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in75 |
---|
87 | | - | accordance with Code Section 35-1-2.76 |
---|
88 | | - | (f) For the purpose of reports submitted under subsection (e) of this Code section, a sexual77 |
---|
89 | | - | assault kit shall be assigned to the jurisdiction associated with the law enforcement agency78 |
---|
90 | | - | anticipated to receive the sexual assault kit or otherwise having custody of the sexual79 |
---|
91 | | - | assault kit.80 |
---|
92 | | - | (g) Any public agency or entity, including its officials and employees, and any hospital81 |
---|
93 | | - | and its employees providing services to victims of sexual assault shall not be held civilly82 |
---|
94 | | - | liable for damages arising from any release of information or the failure to release83 |
---|
95 | | - | information related to the state-wide sexual assault kit tracking system, so long as the84 |
---|
96 | | - | release was without gross negligence.85 |
---|
97 | | - | (h) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall adopt rules as necessary to implement86 |
---|
98 | | - | this Code section.87 |
---|
99 | | - | (i) An over-the-counter sexual assault evidence kit does not include a sexual assault kit88 |
---|
100 | | - | sold or provided to law enforcement or medical personnel or a collecting facility. A person89 |
---|
101 | | - | may not sell, offer for sale, or provide to an individual an over-the-counter sexual assault90 |
---|
102 | | - | evidence kit. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by fine not to91 |
---|
103 | | - | exceed $1,000.00."92 |
---|
104 | | - | H. B. 518 (SUB) |
---|
105 | | - | - 4 - 25 LC 56 0352S |
---|
106 | | - | SECTION 3.93 |
---|
107 | | - | Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to law enforcement officers and94 |
---|
108 | | - | agencies, is amended by revising subsections (c), (e), (f), and (g) of Code Section 35-1-2,95 |
---|
109 | | - | relating to examination of sexual assault victims and reports, as follows:96 |
---|
110 | | - | "(c) It shall be the duty of every law enforcement officer who takes possession of the97 |
---|
111 | | - | evidence as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section to ensure that such evidence is98 |
---|
112 | | - | submitted to the division for testing within 30 days of it being collected, in accordance with99 |
---|
113 | | - | the procedures established by the division. The division shall test evidence received in100 |
---|
114 | | - | compliance with this section, unless the victim requests in writing directly to the division101 |
---|
115 | | - | that the evidence not be tested."102 |
---|
116 | | - | "(e) It shall be the duty of every law enforcement agency to create a list of evidence103 |
---|
117 | | - | resulting from a forensic medical examination that is in such agency's possession on104 |
---|
118 | | - | August 1, 2016, identifying such evidence as needing to be tested and submitting such105 |
---|
119 | | - | listing of information to the division by August 15, 2016.106 |
---|
120 | | - | (f)(e) A failure to comply with the provisions of this Code section shall not affect the107 |
---|
121 | | - | admissibility of evidence collected from a forensic medical examination.108 |
---|
122 | | - | (g)(f) Beginning December 1, 2016, the division shall issue an annual report detailing the109 |
---|
123 | | - | number of cases for which it has tested evidence pursuant to this Code section and the110 |
---|
124 | | - | number of cases that are awaiting testing. Such report shall be provided to the executive111 |
---|
125 | | - | counsel of the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Lieutenant112 |
---|
126 | | - | Governor President of the Senate, the members of the House Committee on Judiciary,113 |
---|
127 | | - | Non-civil,; the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee,; the House Committee on114 |
---|
128 | | - | Public and Community Health; and Human Services, and the Senate Health and Human115 |
---|
129 | | - | Services Committee; and posted online at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's public116 |
---|
130 | | - | website."117 |
---|
131 | | - | H. B. 518 (SUB) |
---|
132 | | - | - 5 - 25 LC 56 0352S |
---|
133 | | - | SECTION 4.118 |
---|
134 | | - | Said title is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:119 |
---|
135 | | - | "35-6A-18.120 |
---|
136 | | - | (a) There is created the Forensic Medical Examination Advisory Committee which shall121 |
---|
137 | | - | be composed of 13 members.122 |
---|
138 | | - | (b) The members of the committee shall be the State Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner123 |
---|
139 | | - | (SANE) Coordinator and 12 other citizens of this state appointed by the Governor. Of the124 |
---|
140 | | - | members appointed by the Governor, four shall be registered nurses who hold certification125 |
---|
141 | | - | in forensic nursing, one shall be a representative from the Georgia Board of Nursing, one126 |
---|
142 | | - | shall be a representative from the Georgia Nurses Association, two shall be licensed127 |
---|
143 | | - | providers under Georgia law who are advanced practitioners, one shall be a peace officer128 |
---|
144 | | - | certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, one shall be a129 |
---|
145 | | - | prosecuting attorney, one shall be employed by the Division of Forensic Sciences of the130 |
---|
146 | | - | Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and one shall be a victims' rights advocate. The Governor131 |
---|
147 | | - | shall make the initial appointments not later than July 1, 2025, and shall appoint three132 |
---|
148 | | - | members for a one-year term of office, three members for two-year terms of office, three133 |
---|
149 | | - | members for three-year terms of office, and three members for four-year terms of office,134 |
---|
150 | | - | which shall be specified in each member's appointment. Thereafter, successors shall be135 |
---|
151 | | - | appointed to four-year terms of office. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the136 |
---|
152 | | - | Governor for the unexpired term. Initial terms of office shall begin on July 1, 2025.137 |
---|
153 | | - | (c) The committee shall establish by rule and regulation criteria for the SANE didactic and138 |
---|
154 | | - | clinical training protocols for the forensic medical examination and maintain certificates139 |
---|
155 | | - | for forensic nurses in the state. The training protocols shall be consistent with best practice140 |
---|
156 | | - | as defined by the national organizations and uphold nurse practice standards as regulated141 |
---|
157 | | - | by the Georgia Board of Nursing. To receive the state certificate, the registered nurse must142 |
---|
158 | | - | complete a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council approved SANE didactic and clinical143 |
---|
159 | | - | training and submit the required documents required by the protocol as set forth by the144 |
---|
160 | | - | H. B. 518 (SUB) |
---|
161 | | - | - 6 - 25 LC 56 0352S |
---|
162 | | - | committee. Forensic nurses with sexual assault nurse training who begin practice in this145 |
---|
163 | | - | state on or after August 1, 2025, shall have until January 1, 2026, to apply for the state146 |
---|
164 | | - | certificate. Nurses entering the state on or after August 1, 2025, and who intend to practice147 |
---|
165 | | - | as a sexual assault nurse examiner shall apply for the state certificate prior to beginning148 |
---|
166 | | - | practice as a sexual assault nurse examiner. The Victims Compensation Division of the149 |
---|
167 | | - | Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall have the authority to make exceptions for any150 |
---|
168 | | - | reimbursement for the SANE examination by rule or regulation.151 |
---|
169 | | - | (d) On and after October 1, 2025, persons or organizations that provide sexual assault152 |
---|
170 | | - | nurse examiner training in this state shall register and receive approval from the Forensic153 |
---|
171 | | - | Medical Examination Advisory Committee prior to offering such training. Such persons154 |
---|
172 | | - | or organizations shall submit the locations and dates of the proposed training and the155 |
---|
173 | | - | training content for all adult/adolescent and pediatric didactic and clinical training for156 |
---|
174 | | - | approval by the Forensic Medical Examination Advisory Committee. Such persons or157 |
---|
175 | | - | organizations shall report to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on completed158 |
---|
176 | | - | training with such information and in such manner as directed by the Criminal Justice159 |
---|
177 | | - | Coordinating Council.160 |
---|
178 | | - | (e) Approvals for trainings made by the Forensic Medical Examination Advisory161 |
---|
179 | | - | Committee and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall adhere to the established162 |
---|
180 | | - | rules as set forth by the committee protocol. The committee shall also act as an advisory163 |
---|
181 | | - | committee to assist the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in developing best practice164 |
---|
| 73 | + | be submitted on or before December 31, 2025, and subsequent reports are to be submitted59 |
---|
| 74 | + | on or before January 31 of each subsequent year to provide data for the preceding calendar60 |
---|
| 75 | + | year. Each report shall include:61 |
---|
| 76 | + | (1) The number of sexual assault kits used by collection sites to conduct forensic medical62 |
---|
| 77 | + | examinations of assault victims;63 |
---|
| 78 | + | (2) Of the sexual assault kits used by collection sites to conduct forensic medical64 |
---|
| 79 | + | examinations, the number of sexual assault kits for which a sexual assault has been65 |
---|
| 80 | + | reported to law enforcement, sorted by law enforcement agency;66 |
---|
| 81 | + | (3) The average time for each law enforcement agency to collect reported sexual assault67 |
---|
| 82 | + | kits from collection sites;68 |
---|
| 83 | + | H. B. 518 |
---|
| 84 | + | - 3 - 25 LC 48 1481 |
---|
| 85 | + | (4) Of the sexual assault kits generated for reported cases, the number of sexual assault69 |
---|
| 86 | + | kits submitted to a laboratory for forensic testing;70 |
---|
| 87 | + | (5) Of the sexual assault kits submitted for forensic testing, the number of kits for which71 |
---|
| 88 | + | forensic testing has been completed;72 |
---|
| 89 | + | (6) The number of sexual assault kits for which a sexual assault has not been reported73 |
---|
| 90 | + | to law enforcement; and74 |
---|
| 91 | + | (7) The jurisdictions in which reported sexual assault kits have not been submitted to the75 |
---|
| 92 | + | Division of Forensic Sciences of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in accordance with76 |
---|
| 93 | + | Code Section 35-1-2.77 |
---|
| 94 | + | (f) For the purpose of reports submitted under subsection (e) of this Code section, a sexual78 |
---|
| 95 | + | assault kit shall be assigned to the jurisdiction associated with the law enforcement agency79 |
---|
| 96 | + | anticipated to receive the sexual assault kit or otherwise having custody of the sexual80 |
---|
| 97 | + | assault kit.81 |
---|
| 98 | + | (g) An over-the-counter sexual assault evidence kit does not include a sexual assault kit82 |
---|
| 99 | + | sold or provided to law enforcement or medical personnel or a collecting facility. A person83 |
---|
| 100 | + | may not sell, offer for sale, or provide to an individual an over-the-counter sexual assault84 |
---|
| 101 | + | evidence kit. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by fine not to85 |
---|
| 102 | + | exceed $1,000.00.86 |
---|
| 103 | + | (h) Any public agency or entity, including its officials and employees, and any hospital87 |
---|
| 104 | + | and its employees providing services to victims of sexual assault shall not be held civilly88 |
---|
| 105 | + | liable for damages arising from any release of information or the failure to release89 |
---|
| 106 | + | information related to the state-wide sexual assault kit tracking system, so long as the90 |
---|
| 107 | + | release was without gross negligence.91 |
---|
| 108 | + | (i) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall adopt rules as necessary to implement92 |
---|
| 109 | + | this Code section."93 |
---|
| 110 | + | H. B. 518 |
---|
| 111 | + | - 4 - 25 LC 48 1481 |
---|
| 112 | + | SECTION 3. |
---|
| 113 | + | 94 |
---|
| 114 | + | Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to law enforcement officers and95 |
---|
| 115 | + | agencies, is amended by revising subsections (c), (e), (f), and (g) of Code Section 35-1-2,96 |
---|
| 116 | + | relating to examination of sexual assault victims and reports, as follows:97 |
---|
| 117 | + | "(c) It shall be the duty of every law enforcement officer who takes possession of the98 |
---|
| 118 | + | evidence as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section to ensure that such evidence is99 |
---|
| 119 | + | submitted to the division for testing |
---|
| 120 | + | within 30 days of it being collected, in accordance with100 |
---|
| 121 | + | the procedures established by the division. The division shall test evidence received in101 |
---|
| 122 | + | compliance with this section, unless the victim requests in writing directly to the division102 |
---|
| 123 | + | that the evidence not be tested."103 |
---|
| 124 | + | "(e) It shall be the duty of every law enforcement agency to create a list of evidence104 |
---|
| 125 | + | resulting from a forensic medical examination that is in such agency's possession on105 |
---|
| 126 | + | August 1, 2016, identifying such evidence as needing to be tested and submitting such106 |
---|
| 127 | + | listing of information to the division by August 15, 2016.107 |
---|
| 128 | + | (f)(e) A failure to comply with the provisions of this Code section shall not affect the108 |
---|
| 129 | + | admissibility of evidence collected from a forensic medical examination.109 |
---|
| 130 | + | (g)(f) Beginning December 1, 2016, the division shall issue an annual report detailing the110 |
---|
| 131 | + | number of cases for which it has tested evidence pursuant to this Code section and the111 |
---|
| 132 | + | number of cases that are awaiting testing. Such report shall be provided to the executive112 |
---|
| 133 | + | counsel of the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Lieutenant113 |
---|
| 134 | + | Governor President of the Senate, the members of the House Committee on Judiciary,114 |
---|
| 135 | + | Non-civil,; the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee,; the House Committee on115 |
---|
| 136 | + | Public and Community Health; and Human Services, and the Senate Health and Human116 |
---|
| 137 | + | Services Committee; and posted online at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's public117 |
---|
| 138 | + | website."118 |
---|
| 139 | + | H. B. 518 |
---|
| 140 | + | - 5 - 25 LC 48 1481 |
---|
| 141 | + | SECTION 4. |
---|
| 142 | + | 119 |
---|
| 143 | + | Said title is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:120 |
---|
| 144 | + | "35-6A-18. |
---|
| 145 | + | 121 |
---|
| 146 | + | (a) There is created the Forensic Medical Examination Advisory Committee which shall122 |
---|
| 147 | + | be composed of 13 members.123 |
---|
| 148 | + | (b) The members of the committee shall be the State Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner124 |
---|
| 149 | + | (SANE) Coordinator and 12 other citizens of this state appointed by the Governor. Of the125 |
---|
| 150 | + | members appointed by the Governor, four shall be registered nurses who hold board126 |
---|
| 151 | + | certification in forensic nursing, one shall be a representative from the Georgia Board of127 |
---|
| 152 | + | Nursing, one shall be a representative from the Georgia Nurses Association, two shall be128 |
---|
| 153 | + | licensed providers under Georgia law who are advanced practitioners, one shall be a peace129 |
---|
| 154 | + | officer certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, one shall130 |
---|
| 155 | + | be a prosecuting attorney, one shall be employed by the Division of Forensic Sciences of131 |
---|
| 156 | + | the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and one shall be a victims' rights advocate. The132 |
---|
| 157 | + | Governor shall make the initial appointments not later than July 1, 2025, and shall appoint133 |
---|
| 158 | + | three members for a one-year term of office, three members for two-year terms of office,134 |
---|
| 159 | + | three members for three-year terms of office, and three members for four-year terms of135 |
---|
| 160 | + | office, which shall be specified in each member's appointment. Thereafter, successors shall136 |
---|
| 161 | + | be appointed to four-year terms of office. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the137 |
---|
| 162 | + | Governor for the unexpired term. Initial terms of office shall begin on July 1, 2025.138 |
---|
| 163 | + | (c) The committee shall establish by rule and regulation criteria for the SANE didactic and139 |
---|
| 164 | + | clinical training protocols for the forensic medical examination and maintain certificates140 |
---|
| 165 | + | for forensic nurses in the state. The training protocols shall be consistent with best practice141 |
---|
| 166 | + | as defined by the national organizations and uphold nurse practice standards as regulated142 |
---|
| 167 | + | by the Georgia Board of Nursing. To receive the state certificate, the registered nurse must143 |
---|
| 168 | + | complete a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council approved SANE didactic and clinical144 |
---|
| 169 | + | training and submit the required documents required by the protocol as set forth by the145 |
---|
| 170 | + | H. B. 518 |
---|
| 171 | + | - 6 - 25 LC 48 1481 |
---|
| 172 | + | committee. Forensic Nurses with sexual assault nurse training who begin practice in this146 |
---|
| 173 | + | state on or after August 1, 2025, shall have until January 1, 2026, to apply for the state147 |
---|
| 174 | + | certificate. Nurses entering the state on or after August 1, 2025, and who intend to practice148 |
---|
| 175 | + | as a sexual assault nurse examiner shall apply for the state certificate prior to beginning149 |
---|
| 176 | + | practice as a sexual assault nurse examiner. The Victims Compensation Division of the150 |
---|
| 177 | + | Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall have the authority to make exceptions for any151 |
---|
| 178 | + | reimbursement for the SANE examination by rule or regulation.152 |
---|
| 179 | + | (d) On and after July 1, 2025, persons or organizations that provide sexual assault nurse153 |
---|
| 180 | + | examiner training in this state shall register and receive approval from the State Sexual154 |
---|
| 181 | + | Assault Nurse Examiner Coordinator prior to offering such training. Such persons or155 |
---|
| 182 | + | organizations shall submit the locations and dates of the proposed training and the training156 |
---|
| 183 | + | content for all adult/adolescent and pediatric didactic and clinical training for approval by157 |
---|
| 184 | + | the State Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Coordinator. Such persons or organizations shall158 |
---|
| 185 | + | report to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on completed training with such159 |
---|
| 186 | + | information and in such manner as directed by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. 160 |
---|
| 187 | + | (e) Approvals for trainings made by the State Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Coordinator161 |
---|
| 188 | + | and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall adhere to the established rules as set162 |
---|
| 189 | + | forth by the committee protocol. The committee shall also act as an advisory committee163 |
---|
| 190 | + | to assist the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in developing best practice164 |
---|