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House Judiciary hears bill to shift sexual-assault exam costs to state fund
Summary
Lawmakers heard testimony on Senate Bill 491, which would create a centralized state fund to reimburse sexual-assault forensic exams and use unallocated marijuana tax revenue to finance payments; DOJ and advocates urged amendments and higher funding to cover rural access and true exam costs.
Senators and representatives heard testimony Jan. 16 on Senate Bill 491, a measure sponsored by Senator Bob Phelan that would create a centralized state reimbursement fund to pay for sexual-assault forensic exams and move the payment responsibility away from local law enforcement. "Senate bill 491 ... establishes a centralized state reimbursement fund through the Montana attorney general's office," Phelan told the House Judiciary Committee as he opened the hearing.
Proponents said the change is aimed at stabilizing rural access to forensic-nurse examiner (SANE) services and preserving evidence. Teresa Olsen, a physician assistant and forensic examiner from Glendive, told the committee that rural survivors face long travel and workforce shortages: "Some victims had to travel for, for over 200 miles for a forensic…
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