On March 20, 2024, KASAP Staff Attorney Jenna Cassady accompanied Senator Denise Harper Angel to the House standing judiciary committee in support of SB 319 which would strengthen the Crime Victims’ Compensation fund. The bill is now on its way to passage!
We’re grateful to have been included in the working group to make important updates to the crime victims compensation program – a program that is critical for survivors of sexual violence as they seek justice, safety and healing in the aftermath of their assault.
KASAP’s position statements for SB 319:
KASAP supports SB 319 and we thank Senator Harper Angel for including our organization in the working group to make important updates to the crime victims compensation program – a program that is critical for survivors of sexual violence as they seek justice, safety and healing in the aftermath of their assault.
Our centers are led by qualified, highly trained staff who specialize in preventing sexual violence and caring for survivors. We know that sexual violence interrupts a survivor’s everyday life and impacts their overall health. Recovery demands attention to a survivor’s immediate and long-term medical needs.
The Crime Victims Compensation Board supports survivors’ health and well-being in the wake of sexual violence, which plays an important role in improving Kentucky’s overall response to sexual violence. The healing journey is ongoing and calls for comprehensiveness and longevity in healthcare services. Survivors should be able to access this care without fear of financial hardship.
Treatment may include a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE) which operates as an investigative tool. Forensic exams offer an additional layer of treatment, but the exam itself can be retraumatizing and invasive.
SB 319 recognizes the breadth of harm caused by sexual violence – its consequences span throughout a survivor’s lifetime.
Thank you for your consideration of SB 319 and we urge you to support this measure.
Left to right: Senator Harper Angel and KASAP Staff Attorney Jenna Cassady testify to the House standing judiciary committee in support of SB 319
