FRANKFORT –Senator Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, has filed legislation to ensure sexual violence awareness training for medical professionals.
Senate Bill 238 would require a three-hour sexual violence-training course for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and emergency medical technicians as part of their continuing education requirements.
The training course would cover awareness of sexual violence, including the prevalence of sexual violence in Kentucky, legal requirements, model protocols for emergency facilities, and community resources.
“It is a positive step forward in ensuring that victims of sexual violence and assault are getting the care and assistance they need,” said Harper Angel, who has already successfully passed two pieces of legislation ensuring that sexual assault kits are tested. Under Senate Bill 63, known as the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Act 2016, standards were set for the handling of kits by law enforcement, along with time lines for testing. In 2015, she passed Senate Joint Resolution 20, which called for an audit of untested sexual assault kits in the possession of law enforcement agencies in the commonwealth and the Kentucky State Police crime lab. The audit discovered that there were at least 3,090 untested sexual assault kits.
“This legislation will better educate our first line medical responders on the signs of sexual violence, which will allow them to better understand and help victims,” said Senator Harper Angel.
SB 238 will be considered during the 2018 Legislative Session. It has been assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.
Senator Harper Angel represents the 35th senatorial district that includes a portion of Jefferson County.
