BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 534 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 17, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair SB 534 (Corbett) - As Amended: August 15, 2011 Policy Committee: Public SafetyVote: 7-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill makes changes to sexual assault forensic protocol to conform California to federal requirements for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funding. Specifically, this bill: 1)Specifies that any sexual assault victim who seeks a forensic medical exam is not required to engage with law enforcement in order to receive the exam. 2)Authorizes a local law enforcement agency to seek reimbursement for the cost of a forensic medical exam involving a victim who has declined to participate in the criminal justice system by applying to the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) for federal discretionary VAWA funding from the Services, Training, Officers and Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. The authorization to use the VAWA STOP funds for medical forensic examinations sunsets January 1, 2014. 3)Encourages CalEMA to partner with specified professional organizations when developing the required training course for health professionals relating to examination and treatment of sexual assault victims. FISCAL EFFECT Moderate annual federal fund costs for two years, likely less than $250,000, for forensic exam reimbursement. Based on more than 5,000 forcible rates reported statewide in 2010, if 75% seek a forensic exam, and 20% of those exams involved victims who decline to cooperate with law enforcement, at $300 per exam SB 534 Page 2 the annual costs would be about $225,000. California currently receives about $12.6 million annually in VAWA STOP funding. CalEMA acknowledges 15% of this amount is available for discretionary purposes, which, after administrative costs, amounts to about $1.7 million. COMMENTS Rationale . According to the author and sponsors, the Alameda County District Attorney and the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA), this bill is necessary to comply with VAWA requirements that sexual assault victims not be denied medical forensic exams if they do not cooperate with law enforcement. Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081