H.B. No. 2462
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the reporting of a sexual assault, to evidence of a
  sexual assault or other sex offense, and to other law enforcement
  procedures occurring with respect to a sexual assault or other sex
  offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 56A.052(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to conform to Section 2, Chapter 1037 (H.B. 616), Acts of
  the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, and is further amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  If the offense is a sexual assault, a victim, guardian
  of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim is entitled to
  the following rights within the criminal justice system:
               (1)  if requested, the right to a disclosure of
  information regarding:
                     (A)  any evidence that was collected during the
  investigation of the offense, unless disclosing the information
  would interfere with the investigation or prosecution of the
  offense, in which event the victim, guardian, or relative shall be
  informed of the estimated date on which that information is
  expected to be disclosed; and
                     (B)  the status of any analysis being performed of
  any evidence described by Paragraph (A);
               (2)  if requested, the right to be notified:
                     (A)  at the time a request is submitted to a crime
  laboratory to process and analyze any evidence that was collected
  during the investigation of the offense;
                     (B)  at the time of the submission of a request to
  compare any biological evidence collected during the investigation
  of the offense with DNA profiles maintained in a state or federal
  DNA database; and
                     (C)  of the results of the comparison described by
  Paragraph (B), unless disclosing the results would interfere with
  the investigation or prosecution of the offense, in which event the
  victim, guardian, or relative shall be informed of the estimated
  date on which those results are expected to be disclosed;
               (3)  if requested, the right to counseling regarding
  acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human
  immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; and
               (4)  for the victim, the right to:
                     (A)  testing for acquired immune deficiency
  syndrome (AIDS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection,
  antibodies to HIV, or infection with any other probable causative
  agent of AIDS; and
                     (B)  a forensic medical examination to the extent
  provided by Subchapters F and G if, within 120 [96] hours of the
  offense:
                           (i)  the offense is reported to a law
  enforcement agency; or
                           (ii)  a forensic medical examination is
  otherwise conducted at a health care provider [facility].
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 56A, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to conform to Section 3, Chapter 1037 (H.B.
  616), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, by
  adding Article 56A.2505 and further amending that article to read
  as follows:
         Art. 56A.2505.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to
  health care providers described by Article 56A.302.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter F, Chapter 56A, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended by adding Article 56A.2506 to read as
  follows:
         Art. 56A.2506.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "reported
  sexual assault" means a sexual assault that has been reported to a
  law enforcement agency.
         SECTION 4.  Article 56A.251, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to conform to Section 3, Chapter 1037 (H.B. 616), Acts of
  the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, and is further amended
  to read as follows:
         Art. 56A.251.  REQUEST FOR FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION.
  (a)  If [Except as provided by Subsection (b), if] a sexual assault
  is reported to a law enforcement agency within 120 [96] hours after
  the assault, the law enforcement agency, with the consent of the
  victim of the reported [alleged] assault, a person authorized to
  act on behalf of the victim, or an employee of the Department of
  Family and Protective Services, shall request a forensic medical
  examination of the victim for use in the investigation or
  prosecution of the offense.
         (b)  If a sexual assault is not reported within the period
  described by Subsection (a) and the victim is a minor as defined by
  Section 101.003, Family Code, on receiving the consent described by
  Subsection (a) or the consent described by Section 32.003 or
  32.005, Family Code, a law enforcement agency shall request a
  forensic medical examination of the victim for use in the
  investigation or prosecution of the offense [A law enforcement
  agency may decline to request a forensic medical examination under
  Subsection (a) only if:
               [(1)  the person reporting the sexual assault has made
  one or more false reports of sexual assault to any law enforcement
  agency; and
               [(2)  there is no other evidence to corroborate the
  current allegations of sexual assault].
         (c)  If a sexual assault is not reported within the period
  described by Subsection (a) and the victim is not a minor as defined
  by Section 101.003, Family Code, on receiving the consent described
  by Subsection (a), [that subsection] a law enforcement agency may
  request a forensic medical examination of a victim of a reported [an
  alleged] sexual assault for use in the investigation or prosecution
  of the offense if:
               (1)  based on the circumstances of the reported
  assault, the agency believes a forensic medical examination would
  further that investigation or prosecution; or
               (2)  after a medical evaluation by a physician, sexual
  assault examiner, or sexual assault nurse examiner, the physician
  or examiner notifies the agency that a forensic medical examination
  should be conducted [as considered appropriate by the agency].
         (d)  If a sexual assault is reported to a law enforcement
  agency as provided by Subsection (a), (b), or (c), the law
  enforcement agency shall document, in the form and manner required
  by the attorney general, whether the agency requested a forensic
  medical examination.  The law enforcement agency shall:
               (1)  provide the documentation of the agency's decision
  regarding a request for a forensic medical examination to:
                     (A)  the health care provider and the physician,
  sexual assault examiner, or sexual assault nurse examiner, as
  applicable, who provides services to the victim that are related to
  the sexual assault; and
                     (B)  the victim or the person who consented to the
  forensic medical examination on behalf of the victim; and
               (2)  maintain the documentation of the agency's
  decision in accordance with the agency's record retention policies.
         SECTION 5.  Article 56A.252, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to conform to Sections 3 and 8, Chapter 1037 (H.B. 616),
  Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, and is further
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 56A.252.  PAYMENT OF COSTS OF EXAMINATION. (a) [A law
  enforcement agency that requests a forensic medical examination
  under Article 56A.251 shall pay all costs of the examination.]  On
  application to the attorney general, a health care provider that
  provides a forensic medical examination to a sexual assault
  survivor in accordance with this subchapter, or the [law
  enforcement agency is entitled to be reimbursed for the reasonable
  costs of the examination if the examination was performed by a
  physician or by a] sexual assault examiner or sexual assault nurse
  examiner who conducts that examination, as applicable, is entitled
  to be reimbursed in an amount set by attorney general rule for:
               (1)  the reasonable costs of the forensic portion of
  that examination; and
               (2)  the evidence collection kit [defined by Section
  420.003, Government Code].
         (b)  The application under Subsection (a) must be in the form
  and manner prescribed by the attorney general and must include:
               (1)  the documentation that the law enforcement agency
  requested the forensic medical examination, as required under
  Article 56A.251(d); and
               (2)  a complete and itemized bill of the reasonable
  costs of the forensic portion of the examination.
         (c)  A health care provider or a sexual assault examiner or
  sexual assault nurse examiner, as applicable, who applies for
  reimbursement under Subsection (a) shall accept reimbursement from
  the attorney general as payment for the costs unless:
               (1)  the health care provider or the sexual assault
  examiner or sexual assault nurse examiner, as applicable:
                     (A)  requests, in writing, additional
  reimbursement from the attorney general; and
                     (B)  provides documentation in support of the
  additional reimbursement, as reasonably requested by the attorney
  general; and
               (2)  the attorney general determines that there is a
  reasonable justification for additional reimbursement.
         (d)  A health care provider is not entitled to reimbursement
  under this article unless the forensic medical examination was
  conducted by a physician, sexual assault examiner, or sexual
  assault nurse examiner.
         (e)  On request, the attorney general may provide training to
  a health care provider regarding the process for applying for
  reimbursement under this article.
         SECTION 6.  Article 56A.302, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 56A.302.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to
  the following health care providers [facilities] that provide
  diagnosis or treatment services to victims of sexual assault:
               (1)  a general or special hospital licensed under
  Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code;
               (2)  a general or special hospital owned by this state;
               (3)  an outpatient clinic; and
               (4)  a private physician's office.
         SECTION 7.  Article 56A.303, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to conform to Section 4, Chapter 1037 (H.B. 616), Acts of
  the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, and is further amended
  to read as follows:
         Art. 56A.303.  FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION. (a)  In
  accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 420, Government Code, and
  except as provided by Subsection (b), a health care provider
  [facility] shall conduct a forensic medical examination of a victim
  of a [an alleged] sexual assault if:
               (1)  the victim arrives at the provider [facility]
  within 120 [96] hours after the assault occurred;
               (2)  the victim consents to the examination; and
               (3)  at the time of the examination the victim has not
  reported the assault to a law enforcement agency.
         (b)  If a health care provider [facility] does not provide
  diagnosis or treatment services to victims of sexual assault, the
  provider [facility] shall refer a victim of a [an alleged] sexual
  assault who seeks a forensic medical examination under Subsection
  (a) to a health care provider [facility] that provides services to
  those victims.
         (c)  A victim of a [an alleged] sexual assault may not be
  required to participate in the investigation or prosecution of an
  offense as a condition of receiving a forensic medical examination
  under this article.
         SECTION 8.  Article 56A.304, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to conform to Sections 4 and 8, Chapter 1037 (H.B. 616),
  Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, and is further
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 56A.304.  PAYMENT OF FEES RELATED TO EXAMINATION. (a)  
  On application to the [The department shall pay the appropriate
  fees, as set by] attorney general [rule], a health care provider
  that provides [for the forensic portion of] a forensic medical
  examination to a sexual assault survivor in accordance with this
  subchapter, or the [conducted under Article 56A.303(a) and for the
  evidence collection kit if a physician,] sexual assault examiner
  [,] or sexual assault nurse examiner who conducts that [the
  forensic portion of the] examination, as applicable, within 120
  [96] hours after the [alleged] sexual assault occurred is entitled
  to be reimbursed in an amount set by attorney general rule for:
               (1)  the reasonable costs of the forensic portion of
  that examination; and
               (2)  the evidence collection kit.
         (b)  The application under Subsection (a) must be in the form
  and manner prescribed by the attorney general and must include:
               (1)  certification that the examination was conducted
  in accordance with the requirements of Article 56A.303(a); and
               (2)  a complete and itemized bill of the reasonable
  costs of the forensic portion of the examination [attorney general
  shall reimburse the department for fees paid under Subsection (a)].
         (c)  A health care provider or a sexual assault examiner or
  sexual assault nurse examiner, as applicable, who applies for
  reimbursement under Subsection (a) shall accept reimbursement from
  the attorney general as payment for the costs unless:
               (1)  the health care provider or sexual assault
  examiner or sexual assault nurse examiner, as applicable:
                     (A)  requests, in writing, additional
  reimbursement from the attorney general; and
                     (B)  provides documentation in support of the
  additional reimbursement, as reasonably requested by the attorney
  general; and
               (2)  the attorney general determines that there is a
  reasonable justification for additional reimbursement.
         (d)  A health care provider is not entitled to reimbursement
  under this article unless the forensic medical examination was
  conducted at the provider by a physician, sexual assault examiner,
  or sexual assault nurse examiner.
         (e)  On request, the attorney general may provide training to
  a health care provider regarding the process for applying for
  reimbursement under this article.
         (f)  A victim of a [an alleged] sexual assault may not be
  required to pay for:
               (1)  the forensic portion of the forensic medical
  examination; or
               (2)  the evidence collection kit.
         SECTION 9.  Article 56A.307, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 56A.307.  PROCEDURES FOR SUBMISSION OR COLLECTION OF
  ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE. The department, consistent with Chapter 420,
  Government Code, may develop procedures regarding the submission or
  collection of additional evidence of a [an alleged] sexual assault
  other than through a forensic medical examination as described by
  Article 56A.303(a).
         SECTION 10.  Article 56B.453(d), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to conform to Section 5, Chapter 1037 (H.B. 616), Acts of
  the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, and is further amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  The attorney general may use the fund to:
               (1)  reimburse a health care provider or a sexual
  assault examiner or sexual assault nurse examiner for certain costs
  of a forensic medical examination that are incurred by the provider
  or the examiner [law enforcement agency for the reasonable costs of
  a forensic medical examination that are incurred by the agency]
  under Subchapter F or G, Chapter 56A, as provided by those
  subchapters; and
               (2)  make a payment to or on behalf of an individual for
  the reasonable costs incurred for medical care provided under
  Subchapter F or G, Chapter 56A, in accordance with Section 323.004,
  Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 11.  Section 420.003(1-a), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1-a)  "Active criminal case" means a case:
                     (A)  in which:
                           (i)  a sexual assault or other sex offense
  has been reported to a law enforcement agency; [and]
                           (ii)  physical evidence of the offense has
  been submitted to the agency or an accredited crime laboratory
  under this chapter for analysis; and
                           (iii)  the agency documents that an offense
  has been committed and reported; and
                     (B)  for which:
                           (i)  the statute of limitations has not run
  with respect to the prosecution of the offense; or
                           (ii)  a DNA profile was obtained that is
  eligible under Section 420.043 for comparison with DNA profiles in
  the state database or CODIS DNA database.
         SECTION 12.  Sections 420.034(a) and (c), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  For purposes of this section, "evidence" means evidence
  collected during the investigation of a [an alleged] sexual assault
  or other sex offense, including:
               (1)  evidence from an evidence collection kit used to
  collect and preserve evidence of a sexual assault or other sex
  offense; and
               (2)  other biological evidence of a sexual assault or
  other sex offense.
         (c)  The tracking system must:
               (1)  include the evidence collection kit and any other
  items collected during the forensic medical examination in relation
  to a sexual assault or other sex offense and submitted for a
  laboratory analysis that is necessary to identify the offender or
  offenders, regardless of whether the evidence is collected in
  relation to an individual who is alive or deceased;
               (2)  track the location and status of each item of
  evidence through the criminal justice process, including the
  initial collection of the item of evidence in a forensic medical
  examination, receipt and storage of the item of evidence at a law
  enforcement agency, receipt and analysis of the item of evidence at
  an accredited crime laboratory, and storage and destruction of the
  item of evidence after the item is analyzed;
               (3) [(2)]  allow a facility or entity performing a
  forensic medical examination of a survivor, law enforcement agency,
  accredited crime laboratory, prosecutor, or other entity providing
  a chain of custody for an item of evidence to update and track the
  status and location of the item; and
               (4) [(3)]  allow a survivor to anonymously track or
  receive updates regarding the status and location of each item of
  evidence collected in relation to the offense.
         SECTION 13.  Section 420.045, Government Code, is
  transferred to Section 420.034, Government Code, redesignated as
  Subsection (h), Section 420.034, Government Code, and amended to
  read as follows:
         (h)  Not later than December 1 of each year, the department
  [Sec. 420.045. REPORT OF UNANALYZED EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR
  OTHER SEX OFFENSE. Each law enforcement agency and public
  accredited crime laboratory] shall submit a [quarterly] report to
  the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
  representatives, and members of the legislature [department]
  identifying the number of evidence collection kits that have [the
  law enforcement agency has] not yet been submitted for laboratory
  analysis or for which the [crime] laboratory analysis has not yet
  been completed [an analysis], as applicable. The annual report must
  be titled "Statewide Electronic Tracking System Report" and must be
  posted on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
         SECTION 14.  Section 420.035(a), Government Code, as added
  by Chapter 408 (H.B. 8), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2019, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If a health care facility or other entity that performs
  a medical examination to collect evidence of a sexual assault or
  other sex offense receives signed, written consent to release the
  evidence as provided by Section 420.0735, the facility or entity
  shall:
               (1)  promptly notify any law enforcement agency
  investigating the [alleged] offense; and
               (2)  not later than two business days after the date the
  examination is performed, enter the identification number of the
  evidence collection kit into the statewide electronic tracking
  system under Section 420.034.
         SECTION 15.  Section 420.042, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  A law enforcement agency that fails to submit evidence
  of a sexual assault or other sex offense to a public accredited
  crime laboratory within the period required by this section shall
  provide to the department written documentation of the failure,
  including a detailed explanation for the failure.  The agency shall
  submit the documentation required by this subsection on or before
  the 30th day after the date on which the agency discovers that the
  evidence was not submitted within the period required by this
  section.
         SECTION 16.  Section 420.046, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 420.046.  NONCOMPLIANCE. Failure to comply with the
  requirements of Subchapter B or this subchapter may be used to
  determine eligibility for receiving grant funds from the
  department, the office of the governor, or another state agency.
         SECTION 17.  Section 420.042(b), Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 18.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
  over another Act of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021,
  relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
  codes.
         SECTION 19.  The changes in law made by this Act to Chapters
  56A and 56B, Code of Criminal Procedure, apply only to a sexual
  assault reported on or after the effective date of this Act.  A
  sexual assault reported before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the sexual assault was
  reported, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 20.  The changes in law made by this Act to Section
  420.034(c), Government Code, and Section 420.035(a), Government
  Code, as added by Chapter 408 (H.B. 8), Acts of the 86th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, apply only to sexual assault
  evidence and evidence of other sex offenses collected on or after
  the effective date of this Act. Evidence collected before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
  date the evidence was collected, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 21.  Section 420.042(g), Government Code, as added
  by this Act, applies to evidence of a sexual assault or other sex
  offense in possession of a law enforcement agency on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 22.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2462 was passed by the House on April
  7, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 2462 on May 28, 2021, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 2462 on May 30, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 140,
  Nays 0, 2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2462 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  2462 on May 30, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor