SANEs, Hospital Reps Added to Oregon Sexual Assault Response Teams

Today Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed into law H.B. 2375, which adds a sexual assault nurse examiner or a hospital representative to existing sexual assault response teams in each county. District attorneys in each Oregon county are required to organize a sexual assault response team, which must meet quarterly and have protocols in place to address sexual assault response. The SARTs must consist of a representative of a prosecution-based victim assistance program, a sexual assault forensic examiner, a representative of the county sheriff’s office or local law enforcement, and a nonprofit agency that receives public funding and offers support services to victims of sexual assault. H.B. 2375 adds health care representatives who are on the front lines performing forensic medical examinations or by employing or contracting with a certified sexual assault forensic examiner.