Sponsor
Kelly Morrison
Representative · D-MN
Representative · D-MN
The bill would standardize and expand trauma‑informed, immediate post‑assault medical and counseling services for veterans and increase oversight to improve care, but doing so raises costs, administrative burdens, and risks persistent access and privacy/reporting problems—particularly for rural veterans—unless adequately resourced and implemented.
Veterans who experience an acute sexual assault will get faster, standardized access to forensic (SAFE/SANE) exams and evidence collection plus offered STI and pregnancy prophylaxis, improving immediate health outcomes and preserving legal evidence.
Covered veterans will be offered local, coordinated trauma-informed mental health counseling or referral soon after an assault, increasing access to timely behavioral health support.
VA employees and VA police will receive regular, facility-specific trauma-informed training (including in-person at least every five years), improving the quality of response and survivor-centered care.
Veterans—especially in rural areas—may face delays or barriers to receiving timely forensic exams if on-site SAFE/SANE staff are not available and local referrals require travel or depend on scarce local providers.
Directors of VA medical facilities will face added staffing and training costs to hire or ensure access to certified SAFE/SANE providers, potentially straining facility budgets and increasing costs for taxpayers.
Annual training requirements and VISN oversight create administrative and operational burdens on VA staff and leadership that could divert time from clinical duties if additional resources are not provided.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires VA to update emergency sexual-assault policies to ensure SAFE/SANE care or referral, maintain rape-kit supplies, offer prophylaxis and mental-health referrals, and train staff.
Introduced September 8, 2025 by Kelly Morrison · Last progress September 8, 2025
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to update VA and Veterans Health Administration emergency policies for managing acute sexual assaults at VA medical facilities within 18 months. Updated policies must ensure access to certified Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) either on staff or by referral, maintain rape-kit supplies, offer STI and pregnancy prophylaxis and mental-health referrals, provide clear VA police guidance on law-enforcement notification while protecting confidentiality, and require recurring staff and police training. Also directs regional VA leaders to monitor and address facility noncompliance and defines key terms such as "acute sexual assault," "covered veteran," SAFE, and SANE.