CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Creates the Sexual Assault Survivor's Bill of Rights. (8/1/24)

This bill establishes a Sexual Assault Survivor's Bill of Rights for licensed hospitals and healthcare providers in Louisiana, ensuring that survivors can choose whether to report an assault to law enforcement without losing access to medical care or evidence collection. It mandates that all survivors receive timely, private examinations and treatment by qualified providers, with the option to have an advocate present during forensic exams. The legislation also outlines specific procedures for collecting and preserving evidence, including a requirement that unreported evidence be stored securely for at least one year and transferred to law enforcement within seventy-two hours if the facility can maintain proper chain of custody.