Quijano, Lampitt & Stender Bill to Ensure Sexual Assault Victims Don't Pay for Forensic Exams Released by Assembly Panel

Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Annette Quijano, Pamela R. Lampitt and Linda Stender sponsored to ensure victims of sexual assault aren’t responsible for paying for forensic sexual assault exams was released Monday by an Assembly panel.

“This is simply the right thing to do,” said Quijano (D-Union). “Sexual assault victims have already suffered enough. I see no reason why we should add to that suffering by essentially forcing them to pay for the investigation into their own assault. We must remember that these women are the victims, not the criminals.”

“The idea that we would make anyone pay for their own exam following a sexual assault is abhorrent,” said Lampitt (D-Camden). “This bill will ensure that never happens and will give common-sense support to victims when they need it the most."

“With this bill, we would ensure victims won’t face the insult of having to pay for their own exams following a sexual assault,” said Stender (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset). “It’s hard to believe that was ever even a possibility, but this bill makes it an impossibility.”

The bill (A-2597) was released 6-0 by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

A 2001 state law established the Statewide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program. Under that statute, each county provides forensic sexual assault examinations to sexual assault victims. The examinations are conducted by physicians or certified forensic sexual assault nurse examiners.

The program’s intent is to ensure the needs of sexual assault victims are met in a compassionate manner and that forensic evidence is collected and handled appropriately so that it can be used in prosecutions.

Under the statute, the Attorney General promulgates standards and protocols for the county programs.

Currently, these standards provide that victims are not charged any fee for services that are directly associated with forensic sexual assault examinations, including routine medical screening, medications for prophylaxis of sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, supplies, equipment and use of space.

This bill would codify this provision.

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For Release: June 14, 2010
Contact: Assemblywoman Lampitt, 856-435-1247