HB 2713 Summary

• Establishes comprehensive rights for sexual assault survivors including the right to consult with a sexual assault victim advocate during medical examinations and law enforcement interviews, with advocacy communications remaining confidential and privileged.

• Requires medical facilities to inform survivors of their rights in an attorney general-developed document before conducting medical evidentiary examinations and to provide free post-examination showering facilities.

• Mandates that law enforcement and prosecutors provide survivors with written notice of their rights, timely case disposition information, and free copies of all law enforcement reports upon written request.

• Prohibits using sexual assault kit evidence to prosecute survivors for misdemeanor or drug-related offenses (chapter 34) and requires law enforcement to submit kits to crime laboratories within 15 business days of receiving notice.

• Protects survivors from polygraph examination requirements, ensures access to prompt forensic evidence analysis, provides courtroom protections including the right to clear the courtroom during testimony, and guarantees the right to provide victim impact statements at sentencing and release hearings.