For a lot of Kentucky sexual assault survivors, getting a proper medical exam has meant a long drive or a long wait. HB 134 aims to fix that.
Sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Raymer, HB 134 creates a statewide coordinator position at the Kentucky Board of Nursing dedicated to recruiting and training Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), the specially trained nurses who conduct forensic exams after an assault and collect the evidence that can support a prosecution.
The bill also directs the Board of Nursing to build a statewide strategic plan, using a regional model, so that every Kentucky hospital has a real path to SANE coverage instead of leaving rural hospitals to figure it out on their own. And it creates a public registry of credentialed SANEs so hospitals know exactly who to call.
This bill passed both chambers without a single no vote. When a survivor walks into an emergency room, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether that hospital has anyone trained to help them. HB 134 makes sure more of them will.
