January 22, 2025
Mr. Burchett (for himself, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Moskowitz, Ms. Mace, and Mr. Davis of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that sexual assault nurse examiners are employed at certain Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in VA Hospitals Act of 2025
or the SANE Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Qualifications of health care providers who perform sexual assault examinations at certain Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities
(a) In general
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall employ, at each hospital and urgent care facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs—
(1)
at least one sexual assault nurse examiner; or
(2)
if the Secretary cannot so employ a sexual assault nurse examiner, a health care provider qualified to conduct a sexual assault forensic examination.
(b) Mental health care referral
After examining an individual for sexual assault, a health care provider of the Department shall verbally refer the individual to mental health care services furnished by the Secretary—
(1)
in a hospital of the Department; or
(2)
pursuant to a Veterans Care Agreement under section 1703A of title 38, United States Code, if the wait time for services described in paragraph (1) exceeds 30 days.
(c) Dedicated responsibilities
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that there is no reduction in, or negative effect on, the patient care responsibilities that are otherwise carried out by employees of the Department.
(d) Definitions
In this section, the terms sexual assault nurse examiner and sexual assault forensic examination have the meanings given such terms in section 304(a) of the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004 (34 U.S.C. 40723(a)).