SS SB 1159 -- FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS

SPONSOR:  Gibbons (Pratt)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Crime
Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 9 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding forensic examinations
on victims of alleged sexual offenses.  In its main provisions,
the substitute:

(1)  Specifies that an appropriate medical provider must file a
forensic report of an examination performed on a victim of an
alleged sexual offense with the prosecuting attorney of the
county in which the alleged offense occurred;

(2)  Specifies that if a medical provider reasonably believes the
sexual offender could be a parent or guardian of the victim and
the victim is younger than 18 years of age, the provider is only
required to provide written notice of the examination to the
nonoffending parent or guardian;

(3)  Requires the Department of Public Safety to pay for forensic
examinations.  Currently, the Department of Health and Senior
Services pays for the examinations;

(4)  Creates the Sexual Offense Forensic Examination Compensation
Fund to be used by the Department of Public Safety to pay for the
forensic examination of a person who may be the victim of a
sexual offense; and

(5)  Requires the Director of the Department of Revenue, or his
or her designee, to transfer, subject to appropriations, money
from the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund to be deposited into
the Sexual Offense Forensic Examination Compensation Fund.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Unknown
in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.  No impact on Other State Funds
in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill makes modifications to
legislation passed in 2007 regarding the Crime Victims'
Compensation Fund and forensic examinations associated with
alleged sexual offenses.  The legislation is tailored to meet the
needs of children who need forensic examinations.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Gibbons; Missouri Coalition
Against Domestic Violence; and Jay Wood, Missouri Kids First.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:13 pm