What's happening
This bill establishes a pilot program to provide sexual assault forensic examination services via telemedicine in underserved New York hospitals.
Why it matters
Addresses critical gaps in sexual assault care. by targeting hospitals that lack designated forensic examination programs, particularly in rural or underserved areas, ensuring victims in these communities get timely, expert care.
Leverages telemedicine technology. to provide 24/7 access to certified sexual assault forensic examiners, supporting local emergency room staff with live audio-video guidance and evidence collection expertise, which can improve the quality and reliability of forensic evidence.
Mandates robust evaluation and reporting. , requiring the state health commissioner to assess the program’s effectiveness, outcomes, and potential for sustainability, informing future policy and possible statewide expansion.
Potentially establishes a scalable model. for ongoing support, as the bill calls for a plan to transition the pilot into a self-sustaining subscription service for hospitals, which could increase long-term access to specialized care and training.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Sexual Assault Exams By Telemedicine
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3060
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing the sexual assault forensic examination telemedicine pilot program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2805-ii to read as follows:
§ 2805-ii. Sexual assault forensic examination telemedicine pilot program. 1. SAFE pilot establishment. The commissioner shall establish a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE) telemedicine pilot program to assist in providing expert, comprehensive, compassionate care to adult and adolescent patients and training to support providers in health care facilities that do not have a designated sexual assault forensic examination program. The commissioner shall consult with the division of criminal justice services, where appropriate, in the establishment of such pilot program. Such SAFE telemedicine pilot shall:
(a) support patient care and provide health care provider instruction and support in a timely manner on a twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week basis to any victim of sexual assault or abuse who presents at a facility participating in such pilot for services associated with sexual assault or abuse, and consents to such services;
(b) have professionals specially trained, experienced and certified as sexual assault forensic examiners to support emergency room staff in caring for victims of sexual assault or abuse and appropriately securing forensic evidence through live audio video technology;
(c) offer to provide support through telemedicine to no less than forty-six hospitals upon the effective date of this section, including all critical access hospitals and many hospitals in rural and/or underserved areas of the state;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01635-01-9
A. 3060 2
(d) ensure the medical records of both providers, where applicable comply with all applicable laws and regulation relating to evidence preservation; and
(e) meet any other requirements identified by the commissioner.
2. SAFE pilot evaluation. The commissioner shall evaluate, or contract with an entity to evaluate, the effectiveness of such SAFE pilot program and prepare a report on the process of care, the outcomes delivered and the outcomes received. Such report shall also evaluate how such pilot can successfully transition to a self-sustaining program where non-SAFE hospitals could subscribe to a SAFE telemedicine program. Such report shall be delivered to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly by December first, two thousand twenty-one.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that such sexual assault forensic examination telemedicine pilot program, as added by section one of this act, shall be established by the commissioner of health no later than the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.