What's happening
The Safe Way Home Act entitles sexual assault victims and their advocates to free transportation from medical facilities in New York State.
Why it matters
Reduces barriers for sexual assault victims seeking medical care. By guaranteeing free transportation home, the bill helps ensure victims are not deterred from seeking necessary medical attention due to concerns about safety or lack of resources after treatment.
Supports both victims and their advocates. Extending free transportation to crime victim advocates acknowledges the important role these individuals play in supporting victims, making it easier for advocates to accompany and assist throughout the process.
May improve public health and legal outcomes. By making it easier for victims to get to and from medical facilities, the act could lead to more timely evidence collection and reporting, which can be critical both for the victim’s health and for potential prosecution.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Rides for Assault Survivors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Approval memo.83
- Signed chap.737
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.356
- Substituted for A5775A
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 5 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.859
- Referred to finance
- Print number 3966a
- Amend and recommit to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Free Rides for Assault Victims
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Joseph Lentol
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3966--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 22, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "safe way home act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "safe way home act".
§ 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 631-b to read as follows:
§ 631-b. Safe way home transportation program. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, within amounts appropriated for that purpose, sexual assault crime victims shall be entitled to transportation free of charge from any medical facility in the state in which such sexual assault crime victim received initial medical services. Any crime victim advocate assisting a sexual assault crime victim at a medical facility at the initial delivery of medical services shall also be entitled to transportation free of charge to and from such medical facility. The office is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09283-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "safe way home act"
Purpose or general idea of bill
Relates to enacting the "safe way home act"
Summary of provisions
The executive law is amended by adding a new section 631-b which will require that hospitals use funds from victim services programs to provide sexual assault victims and when appropriate the crime victim advocate with a free transportation back home or to a safe shelter after initial visit to medical facility for medical examination.
Justification
Sexual assault is a heinous crime in which a victim's medical and safety needs must be properly provided for. This legislation aims to address an issue of safety and peace of mind by ensuring that victims of sexual assault are provided free transportation home following their visit to a medical facility. Additionally, crime victim advocates, who answer the call of assisting and aiding victims following such a traumatic experi- ence and accompany the victim to health care facility will also be provide the free transportation home from the medical facility.
Prior legislative history
New legislation
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Funding for the requirements of this legislation will be provided by the Crime Victims Services office of the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services. The FY2019-2020 appropriated $3.55 million for rape crisis centers and additional funding is derived from asset forfeiture by district attorneys during the course of their criminal investigations, prosecution and convictions under existing state law.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.