HB137 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Sexual assault, provide for victim notification, provide for certain rights to victims, Sexual Assault Task Force, created, Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights

Summary

HB137 creates rights for sexual assault survivors, requires written notification of those rights, and establishes a Sexual Assault Task Force to improve care and evidence handling.

What This Bill Does

It outlines specific rights for sexual assault survivors, including access to a medical-forensic examination without denial or charges, and long-term preservation of the sexual assault evidence kit. Survivors can request test results or related information from the kit, and receive written information about kit policies, storage, and disposal timelines. The Attorney General must produce a survivor notification document with rights and resources, to be shared at first contact and posted online. A Sexual Assault Task Force is created to develop and promote national DOJ protocols and best practices, with a diverse group from state government, law enforcement, medical facilities, and victim services, and to report findings within two years.

Who It Affects

• Sexual assault survivors and victims — gain new rights, including access to examinations, long-term kit preservation, ability to request test results, and access to policy and compensation information.
• Law enforcement agencies, medical providers, hospitals, prosecutors, and other state actors involved in responding to sexual assault — must implement notification and preservation requirements, share information where allowed, and participate in the new Sexual Assault Task Force.

Key Provisions

• Defines rights for survivors, including the right to a medical-forensic examination without denial or charges; health care providers may bill insurers for the examination.
• Requires preservation of the sexual assault evidence kit and its contents by law enforcement for at least 20 years, or until the survivor turns 40 if they were a minor at the time of assault; preservation may be extended for an additional 20 years upon written request.
• Allows survivors to be informed of test results from the kit or related information if disclosure does not impede an ongoing investigation.
• Requires written notification to survivors about policies governing collection, storage, and disposal of the kit.
• Requires written notification at least 60 days before the destruction or disposal of the kit or its contents, upon request.
• Allows written request for continued preservation of the kit for an additional 20 years.
• The Attorney General must create a survivor notification document with rights, advocacy resources, protective orders, disposal policies, and compensation information, and make it available online and provide at initial contact.
• Establishes the Sexual Assault Task Force to develop and disseminate best practices and DOJ national protocols for care and evidence preservation, and to coordinate with medical and law enforcement communities.
• Task force memberships and duties include a diverse group of state and local officials and professionals; members serve without pay but may be reimbursed for expenses; they will consult with stakeholders and produce a two-year report with findings and recommendations.
• The act does not modify or repeal existing medical liability laws or establish a new standard of care outside current law.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage/approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Sexual Assault Victims