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Senate committee hears emotional debate over bill to require emergency contraception during SANE exams
Summary
The Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs heard hours of testimony on HB 220, which would require health-care facilities offering Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exams to offer FDA‑approved emergency contraception to consenting sexual‑assault survivors. Supporters said time‑sensitive access is critical; opponents urged conscience protections and disputed medical characterizations. The committee left the bill pending.
The Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs spent the longest portion of its Sunday session on House Bill 220, a measure to require health‑care facilities that provide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exams to offer FDA‑approved emergency contraception to consenting sexual‑assault survivors.
Proponents framed the bill as a time‑sensitive, trauma‑informed medical intervention. "Once that survivor makes a choice to report ... to not give them the immediate choice for preventative medications, quite honestly, is just common sense," said Kim Farbo, who identified herself as working for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. Amy Jones, chief executive officer of a Dallas‑area crisis center, said survivors often cannot get emergency contraception after leaving a SANE exam and described cases in…
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