Texas House Bill HB2678

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the compilation and reporting of statistics involving sexual assault victims who receive a forensic medical examination before reporting the assault to law enforcement.

Impact

The implementation of HB 2678 is expected to have notable implications for state law, particularly in how sexual assault cases are documented and reported. The bill promotes transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies by requiring them to formalize the collection and reporting of statistics every two years. This could lead to increased awareness and potentially inform legislative or policy changes aimed at improving the resources available for sexual assault victims.

Summary

House Bill 2678 aims to enhance the support and reporting of statistics related to sexual assault victims who undergo forensic medical examinations before reporting such incidents to law enforcement. The bill mandates the Department of Public Safety to compile and maintain statistics on these cases, ensuring that the data is anonymized and does not include identifying information of the victims. This initiative is geared towards improving the understanding of the prevalence and handling of sexual assault cases in Texas, thereby helping to address systemic issues related to victim support and law enforcement response.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support for its focus on victim anonymity and improved data compilation, there may be contention regarding the resources required for proper implementation, data management, and reporting by the Department of Public Safety. Opponents may raise concerns about ensuring that adequate infrastructure is in place to support these efforts, fearing that without proper funding and training, the bill's goals may not be fully realized.