Judiciary committee advances bill to add domestic violence to forensic medical exams, refers funding to Appropriations

The House Judiciary Committee voted 13-0 to recommend Senate Bill 2209 for passage and to re-refer the measure to the Appropriations Committee. The bill would expand the statute governing forensic medical examinations to include domestic-violence cases and includes an appropriation of $200,000 discussed during the hearing.

Committee members said the change would move a pilot project into a permanent statutory framework while keeping funding subject to the regular biennial appropriation process. Committee discussion referenced language in the bill specifying the appropriation would apply to a stated biennium (the bill text cited the “biennium beginning 07/01/2015”), and members said that the appropriation would still be subject to future biennial budgeting.

Representative Vedder moved the due-pass recommendation and Representative McLeod seconded. The clerk conducted a roll call; the motion carried 13-0 with one absence and the committee directed that the bill be re-referred to the Appropriations Committee. Committee members noted a bill carrier will be needed when the bill returns from Appropriations so the sponsor can explain any final details.

Background: Committee members said the statute currently covers certain criminal conduct and that this bill would explicitly add domestic-violence incidents — including incidents involving spouses and child abuse — to the statute that authorizes forensic medical examinations. The committee did not adopt any amendments at this meeting.