HR 5571 114th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Advisory bodies Assault and harassment offenses Crime victims Crimes against women Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Evidence and witnesses Genetics Law enforcement administration and funding Medical tests and diagnostic methods Sex offenses

Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act

Introduced: June 22, 2016 Introduced by: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie Democratic · Florida See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jun 30, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Jun 22, 2016

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Jun 22, 2016

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act

This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish statutory rights for sexual assault survivors, including the right to: (1) receive a forensic medical examination at no cost; (2) have a sexual assault evidence collection kit (i.e., rape kit) preserved for the maximum applicable statute of limitations; (3) receive written notification prior to destruction or disposal of a rape kit; and (4) be informed of the rights and policies under this section.

Additionally, it makes statutory crime victims' rights applicable to sexual assault survivors.

The bill amends the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 to include information about sexual assault services, programs, and providers in the description of services provided to victims.

The bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Office of Justice Programs to make grants to states to develop sexual assault survivors' rights and policies and to disseminate written notice of such rights and policies to medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual assault service providers, law enforcement agencies, and other state entities.

DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must establish a joint working group to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.

For purposes of this bill, the term "sexual assault survivor" includes a legal representative acting on behalf of a deceased victim of sexual assault.

What's happening now June 30, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Committees of jurisdiction 3