S.B. 283 Summary

• Establishes the "Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act" requiring Ohio hospitals with emergency services to provide 24-hour availability of qualified medical professionals (physicians, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse practitioners, or certified nurse-midwives) for examination of sexual assault victims.

• Mandates hospitals provide female sexual assault victims of child-bearing age with information about and prompt offer of emergency contraception, including medically accurate details about FDA approval, effectiveness, timing, and that it does not cause abortion.

• Requires hospitals to conduct sexually transmitted infection risk assessments for all sexual assault victims and provide counseling on prevalent infections with effective postexposure treatment, along with offers of prophylactic treatment following CDC guidelines.

• Obligates hospitals to provide victims with pre-discharge counseling on follow-up medical and mental health care benefits, including information about local organizations and providers capable of providing continued care for sexual assault victims.

• Permits minors to consent to these services without parental consent and establishes civil penalties of at least $10,000 per violation, with potential injunctive relief for repeat violations enforced by the Department of Health.