Bill > H2429

This bill requires individuals convicted of certain sexual assault-related crimes to undergo mandatory HIV testing within 14 days of their conviction. The testing must be conducted either by the institution where the convicted person is held in custody or by the Probation Department if the person is not in custody. The test results will be made available to both the convicted person and the victim. Until the HIV test is completed, the convicted individual will be ineligible for parole, work release, education release, or transfer to lower-security facilities, and they cannot earn early release credits. If a person refuses to submit to the required HIV testing, they must return to court within seven days to explain their refusal. The court may then hold the person in contempt, revise their sentence, or both, and the refusal can also be grounds for violating probation. This legislation aims to provide transparency and potential medical information to victims of sexual assault by ensuring that offenders are tested for HIV after conviction.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2429