Bill > HB3434

This bill establishes the Missouri Statewide Sexual Assault Response Task Force, a group composed of legislators, representatives from various state agencies (including the Attorney General's office, departments of public safety and health, and the highway patrol), law enforcement associations, medical professionals, and victim advocacy groups, to study and recommend improvements for the statewide response to sexual assault. The task force will examine best practices from the initial complaint through investigation, medical care, advocacy, and the justice system, and will assess the need for additional rape crisis center staff and funding, as well as evaluate the implementation of the Sexual Assault Survivor Bill of Rights. It will also collect data on sexual assault cases, gather feedback from stakeholders, identify and propose solutions for gaps and barriers in victim services and prosecution, and report its findings to the governor and general assembly by December 31, 2028, at which point it will expire. Additionally, the bill enacts the "Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act," which sets a standard of care for hospitals and health care facilities to orally inform sexual assault victims of their option to receive emergency contraception, provide it immediately if requested, and offer sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment, with the Department of Health and Senior Services responsible for implementing these provisions. The bill also updates requirements for hospitals to perform forensic examinations upon a victim's request, ensuring providers are trained and, when necessary, utilizing telehealth services for guidance from a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) or similarly trained professional, with provisions for waivers and exemptions under certain circumstances, and clarifies that the costs of these examinations and medical treatment, including emergency contraception, and evidentiary collection kits are reimbursable.