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Senate File 197 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1establishing the sexual assault nurse forensic examiner
2program.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 13.31, Code 2021, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 8. Administer the sexual assault nurse
4forensic examiner program established pursuant to section
5915.46 for training, certifying, and providing technical
6assistance to sexual assault nurse forensic examiners.
7 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 915.46 Sexual assault nurse forensic
8examiner program.
91. As used in this section:
10a. “Medical forensic services” include but are not
11limited to, taking a medical history, performing photographic
12documentation, performing a physical examination, assessing a
13patient for evidence collection, collection of evidence using
14a sexual abuse evidence collection kit, assessing a patient
15for drug-facilitated or alcohol-facilitated sexual assault,
16providing an evaluation of and care for sexually transmitted
17infection and HIV, pregnancy risk evaluation and care, and
18discharge and follow-up health care planning.
19b. “Pediatric treatment facility” means a treatment facility
20dealing with the development, care, and diseases of infants,
21children, and adolescents.
22c. “Sexual assault nurse forensic examiner” means a licensed
23practical nurse, a registered nurse, an advanced registered
24nurse practitioner, or an advanced practice registered nurse,
25licensed pursuant to chapter 152 or 152E who has completed a
26sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program that meets the
27sexual assault nurse examiner education guidelines established
28by the international association of forensic nurses.
29d. “Sexual assault survivor” means a person who seeks
30medical forensic services in relation to injuries or trauma
31resulting from a sexual assault.
32e. “Treatment facility” means a hospital, clinic, or
33pediatric treatment facility that provides medical forensic
34services to sexual assault survivors who seek medical forensic
35services for a sexual assault within seven days of a sexual
-1-1assault, or who have disclosed a past sexual assault by a
2specific person while under the care of that person within
3seven days of a sexual assault.
42. A sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program is
5established within the department of justice. The sexual
6assault nurse forensic examiner program shall maintain a list
7of sexual assault nurse forensic examiners who have completed
8didactic and clinical training requirements approved by the
9department of justice and consistent with the sexual assault
10forensic examiner education guidelines established by the
11international association of forensic nurses.
123. a. By July 1, 2022, the sexual assault nurse forensic
13examiner program shall develop and make available to treatment
14facilities two hours of online sexual assault training for
15sexual assault nurse forensic examiners. Notwithstanding
16any other law regarding ongoing licensure requirements, such
17training shall apply toward the continuing nursing education
18credits for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses,
19advanced registered nurse practitioners, and advanced practice
20registered nurses.
21b. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program
22shall provide didactic and clinical training opportunities
23consistent with the sexual assault forensic examiner education
24guidelines established by the international association of
25forensic nurses, in collaboration with the Iowa department of
26public health and the Iowa coalition against sexual assault, in
27sufficient numbers and geographical locations across the state
28to assist treatment facilities with training sexual assault
29nurse forensic examiners.
30c. Sexual assault nurse forensic examiner training provided
31under this subsection may be provided in person or online and
32shall include but is not limited to information concerning all
33of the following:
34(1) The provision of medical forensic services.
35(2) The use of a sexual abuse evidence collection kit.
-2- 1(3) Sexual assault epidemiology, the neurobiology of
2trauma, drug-facilitated sexual assault, child sexual abuse,
3and Iowa sexual assault-related laws.
4(4) The treatment facility’s sexual assault-related
5policies and procedures.
64. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program,
7in consultation with qualified medical providers, the Iowa
8department of public health, and the Iowa coalition against
9sexual assault, shall create uniform materials that all
10treatment facilities and pediatric treatment facilities are
11required to provide to patients and non-offending parents or
12legal guardians, if applicable, regarding medical forensic
13examination procedures, laws regarding consent relating to
14medical forensic services, and the benefits and risks of
15evidence collection, including recommended time frames for
16evidence collection pursuant to evidence-based research.
17These materials shall be made available on the department of
18justice’s internet site to all treatment facilities.
195. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program,
20in consultation with qualified medical providers, the Iowa
21department of public health, and the Iowa coalition against
22sexual assault, shall create and update statewide sexual
23assault nurse forensic examiner protocols, shall provide
24technical assistance upon request to health care professionals,
25and shall provide expertise on best practices to health care
26professionals relating to sexual assault forensic examinations.
27EXPLANATION
28The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
29the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
30This bill establishes the sexual assault nurse forensic
31examiner program.
32The bill provides that the victim assistance program
33established in the department of justice shall administer the
34sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program established in
35the bill (Code section 915.46) for training, certifying, and
-3-1providing technical assistance to sexual assault nurse forensic
2examiners.
3The bill provides that a sexual assault nurse forensic
4examiner program is established within the department of
5justice. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program
6shall maintain a list of sexual assault nurse forensic
7examiners who have completed certain training requirements.
8By July 1, 2022, the sexual assault nurse forensic examiner
9program shall develop and make available to treatment
10facilities two hours of online sexual assault training for
11sexual assault nurse forensic examiners. Notwithstanding
12any other law regarding ongoing licensure requirements, such
13training shall apply toward the continuing nursing education
14credits for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses,
15advanced registered nurse practitioners, and advanced practice
16registered nurses.
17The bill provides that sexual assault nurse forensic
18examiner training may be provided in person or online and
19shall include but is not limited to information concerning the
20provision of medical forensic services; the use of a sexual
21abuse evidence collection kit; sexual assault epidemiology,
22the neurobiology of trauma, drug-facilitated sexual assault,
23child sexual abuse, and Iowa sexual assault-related laws; and
24the treatment facility’s sexual assault-related policies and
25procedures.
26The bill provides that the sexual assault nurse forensic
27examiner program, in consultation with qualified medical
28providers, the Iowa department of public health, and the
29Iowa coalition against sexual assault, shall create uniform
30materials that all treatment facilities and pediatric
31treatment facilities are required to provide to patients and
32non-offending parents or legal guardians, if applicable,
33regarding medical forensic examination procedures, laws
34regarding consent relating to medical forensic services,
35and the benefits and risks of evidence collection including
-4-1recommended time frames for evidence collection pursuant to
2evidence-based research. The materials shall be made available
3on the department of justice’s internet site to all treatment
4facilities. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner
5program, in consultation with qualified medical providers,
6the Iowa department of public health, and the Iowa coalition
7against sexual assault, shall create and update statewide
8sexual assault nurse forensic examiner protocols, shall provide
9technical assistance upon request to health care professionals,
10and shall provide expertise on best practices to health care
11professionals relating to sexual assault forensic examinations.
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2program.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 13.31, Code 2021, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 8. Administer the sexual assault nurse
4forensic examiner program established pursuant to section
5915.46 for training, certifying, and providing technical
6assistance to sexual assault nurse forensic examiners.
7 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 915.46 Sexual assault nurse forensic
8examiner program.
91. As used in this section:
10a. “Medical forensic services” include but are not
11limited to, taking a medical history, performing photographic
12documentation, performing a physical examination, assessing a
13patient for evidence collection, collection of evidence using
14a sexual abuse evidence collection kit, assessing a patient
15for drug-facilitated or alcohol-facilitated sexual assault,
16providing an evaluation of and care for sexually transmitted
17infection and HIV, pregnancy risk evaluation and care, and
18discharge and follow-up health care planning.
19b. “Pediatric treatment facility” means a treatment facility
20dealing with the development, care, and diseases of infants,
21children, and adolescents.
22c. “Sexual assault nurse forensic examiner” means a licensed
23practical nurse, a registered nurse, an advanced registered
24nurse practitioner, or an advanced practice registered nurse,
25licensed pursuant to chapter 152 or 152E who has completed a
26sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program that meets the
27sexual assault nurse examiner education guidelines established
28by the international association of forensic nurses.
29d. “Sexual assault survivor” means a person who seeks
30medical forensic services in relation to injuries or trauma
31resulting from a sexual assault.
32e. “Treatment facility” means a hospital, clinic, or
33pediatric treatment facility that provides medical forensic
34services to sexual assault survivors who seek medical forensic
35services for a sexual assault within seven days of a sexual
-1-1assault, or who have disclosed a past sexual assault by a
2specific person while under the care of that person within
3seven days of a sexual assault.
42. A sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program is
5established within the department of justice. The sexual
6assault nurse forensic examiner program shall maintain a list
7of sexual assault nurse forensic examiners who have completed
8didactic and clinical training requirements approved by the
9department of justice and consistent with the sexual assault
10forensic examiner education guidelines established by the
11international association of forensic nurses.
123. a. By July 1, 2022, the sexual assault nurse forensic
13examiner program shall develop and make available to treatment
14facilities two hours of online sexual assault training for
15sexual assault nurse forensic examiners. Notwithstanding
16any other law regarding ongoing licensure requirements, such
17training shall apply toward the continuing nursing education
18credits for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses,
19advanced registered nurse practitioners, and advanced practice
20registered nurses.
21b. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program
22shall provide didactic and clinical training opportunities
23consistent with the sexual assault forensic examiner education
24guidelines established by the international association of
25forensic nurses, in collaboration with the Iowa department of
26public health and the Iowa coalition against sexual assault, in
27sufficient numbers and geographical locations across the state
28to assist treatment facilities with training sexual assault
29nurse forensic examiners.
30c. Sexual assault nurse forensic examiner training provided
31under this subsection may be provided in person or online and
32shall include but is not limited to information concerning all
33of the following:
34(1) The provision of medical forensic services.
35(2) The use of a sexual abuse evidence collection kit.
-2- 1(3) Sexual assault epidemiology, the neurobiology of
2trauma, drug-facilitated sexual assault, child sexual abuse,
3and Iowa sexual assault-related laws.
4(4) The treatment facility’s sexual assault-related
5policies and procedures.
64. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program,
7in consultation with qualified medical providers, the Iowa
8department of public health, and the Iowa coalition against
9sexual assault, shall create uniform materials that all
10treatment facilities and pediatric treatment facilities are
11required to provide to patients and non-offending parents or
12legal guardians, if applicable, regarding medical forensic
13examination procedures, laws regarding consent relating to
14medical forensic services, and the benefits and risks of
15evidence collection, including recommended time frames for
16evidence collection pursuant to evidence-based research.
17These materials shall be made available on the department of
18justice’s internet site to all treatment facilities.
195. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program,
20in consultation with qualified medical providers, the Iowa
21department of public health, and the Iowa coalition against
22sexual assault, shall create and update statewide sexual
23assault nurse forensic examiner protocols, shall provide
24technical assistance upon request to health care professionals,
25and shall provide expertise on best practices to health care
26professionals relating to sexual assault forensic examinations.
27EXPLANATION
28The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
29the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
30This bill establishes the sexual assault nurse forensic
31examiner program.
32The bill provides that the victim assistance program
33established in the department of justice shall administer the
34sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program established in
35the bill (Code section 915.46) for training, certifying, and
-3-1providing technical assistance to sexual assault nurse forensic
2examiners.
3The bill provides that a sexual assault nurse forensic
4examiner program is established within the department of
5justice. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner program
6shall maintain a list of sexual assault nurse forensic
7examiners who have completed certain training requirements.
8By July 1, 2022, the sexual assault nurse forensic examiner
9program shall develop and make available to treatment
10facilities two hours of online sexual assault training for
11sexual assault nurse forensic examiners. Notwithstanding
12any other law regarding ongoing licensure requirements, such
13training shall apply toward the continuing nursing education
14credits for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses,
15advanced registered nurse practitioners, and advanced practice
16registered nurses.
17The bill provides that sexual assault nurse forensic
18examiner training may be provided in person or online and
19shall include but is not limited to information concerning the
20provision of medical forensic services; the use of a sexual
21abuse evidence collection kit; sexual assault epidemiology,
22the neurobiology of trauma, drug-facilitated sexual assault,
23child sexual abuse, and Iowa sexual assault-related laws; and
24the treatment facility’s sexual assault-related policies and
25procedures.
26The bill provides that the sexual assault nurse forensic
27examiner program, in consultation with qualified medical
28providers, the Iowa department of public health, and the
29Iowa coalition against sexual assault, shall create uniform
30materials that all treatment facilities and pediatric
31treatment facilities are required to provide to patients and
32non-offending parents or legal guardians, if applicable,
33regarding medical forensic examination procedures, laws
34regarding consent relating to medical forensic services,
35and the benefits and risks of evidence collection including
-4-1recommended time frames for evidence collection pursuant to
2evidence-based research. The materials shall be made available
3on the department of justice’s internet site to all treatment
4facilities. The sexual assault nurse forensic examiner
5program, in consultation with qualified medical providers,
6the Iowa department of public health, and the Iowa coalition
7against sexual assault, shall create and update statewide
8sexual assault nurse forensic examiner protocols, shall provide
9technical assistance upon request to health care professionals,
10and shall provide expertise on best practices to health care
11professionals relating to sexual assault forensic examinations.
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