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Senate adopts amendment and passes victims-protection bill after debate
Summary
Senate File 2379, a victims-protection bill with an adopted amendment that clarifies counselor confidentiality and forensic nurse certification, was approved by the Senate after a roll-call (42–1).
The Senate adopted Amendment 5,100 to Senate File 2379 and then passed the bill as amended.
Senator Bussello (Senator from Polk) described the bill as legislation intended to protect victims by clarifying information-sharing between victim counselors and law enforcement, allowing prosecutors to seek extended no-contact orders, reducing registered offender notice deadlines from five days to three, and preserving sexual-assault examination kits for 20 years or the lifetime of a minor victim. She introduced Amendment 5,100, which she said clarified confidentiality limits and tightened standards for forensic nurse certification.
Senator Peterson urged support for the amendment, saying survivors and healthcare providers had raised concerns the amendment addresses. The Senate adopted the amendment and then approved the bill; the clerk announced a roll-call of 42 aye and 1 nay and the presiding officer declared that the bill had passed. Senator Bussello praised the attorney general for bringing the protections forward during final remarks.
The adopted amendment focuses on confidentiality rules for victim counselors and certification standards for forensic nurses, changes supporters said were requested by survivors and providers. The bill now moves forward to be messaged to the House.
