[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5203 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5203
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update directives of the
Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the management of acute sexual
assault, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2025
Ms. Morrison introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update directives of the
Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the management of acute sexual
assault, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DIRECTIVES REGARDING THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE SEXUAL ASSAULT
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Update.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall update
directives of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding emergency
management of an acute sexual assault of a covered veteran, and ensure
that the policies, of each medical facility, and of police, of the
Department conform to such directive. Elements of such directives and
policies shall include the following:
(1) Updated policies and guidance for all employees of the
Department of Veterans Affairs who respond to covered veterans.
(2) A requirement that the director of a medical facility
of the Department--
(A) employs a certified SAFE clinical provider or a
SANE certified through curricula such as those
developed by the International Association of Forensic
Nurses;
(B) refers, pursuant to section 1703 of title 38,
United States Code, covered veterans to a local non-
Department health care provider that employs a
certified SAFE clinical provider or a SANE; or
(C) coordinates with the Under Secretary for Health
and the Director of the Veteran Integrated Service
Network concerned regarding alternate plans of care for
covered veterans at such facility.
(3) Requirements in the emergency medicine and urgent care
directives of the Veterans Health Administration that a medical
facility of the Department that employs a certified SAFE
clinical provider or a SANE maintains a supply of unexpired
rape kits.
(4) If clinically indicated, a covered veteran shall be
offered prophylaxes for sexually transmitted disease and for
pregnancy. If so indicated, the personnel of the facility shall
provide, to the health care providers of the facility who treat
the covered veteran, clinical practice guidelines or clinical
order sets.
(5) Each covered veteran shall be offered local mental
health care counseling or a referral to a mental health care
provider. If such referral is to a non-Department provider, an
appropriate employee of the Department facility shall
coordinate care with the non-Department provider.
(6) Clear guidance regarding when and how a police officer
of the Department shall document the notification of a local
law enforcement agency of an acute sexual assault of a covered
veteran. Such guidance shall balance the confidentiality of a
covered veteran with Federal, State, and local reporting
requirements.
(b) Training.--
(1) For employees of the vha.--Not less than once each year
after the Secretary updates directives under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall provide, to appropriate employees of the
Veterans Health Administration, training regarding the
directives and policies updated in accordance with paragraphs
(1) through (5) of subsection (a).
(2) For police officers of the department.--Not less than
once each year after the Secretary updates directives under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide, to each police
officer of the Department, a training regarding the guidance
under paragraph (6) of subsection (a) and developed--
(A) by the Director of the Office of Security and
Law Enforcement of the Department; and
(B) in accordance with trauma-informed sexual
assault investigation curricula, such as ones provided
by the International Association of Chiefs of Police;
and
(3) Format.--Training under this subsection--
(A) may be provided in-person or electronically;
(B) shall be provided in-person at least once every
five years to an employee of the Department described
in paragraph (1) or (2);
(C) shall include guided instruction;
(D) shall include information specific to the
facility of the Department where the employee works,
including on-site resources and State and local
requirements; and
(E) may not consist solely of printed materials.
(c) Oversight.--The director of each Veteran Integrated Service
Networks shall monitor compliance with the requirements of this Act and
oversee cases with lack of compliance to determine reasons for lack of
compliance and additional resources and support as determined necessary
by the Secretary to ensure compliance.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``acute sexual assault'' means unwanted sexual
contact with an alleged perpetrator.
(2) The term ``covered veteran'' means a veteran who
exhibits symptoms of acute sexual assault--
(A) at a medical facility of the Department of
Veterans Affairs; and
(B) not later than 72 hours after such acute sexual
assault.
(3) The term ``SAFE'' means sexual assault forensic
examination.
(4) The term ``SANE'' means a sexual assault nurse
examiner.
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