Sec. 102. Improving and strengthening the sexual assault examiner workforce clinical and continuing education pilot program
616 words·~3 min read·
/bill/116/s/402/is/section-102A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the purpose of this section to establish a pilot program to develop, test, and implement training and continuing education which expands and supports the availability of SAFE, SAE, and SANE, providers and services for survivors of sexual assault. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a National Continuing and Clinical Education Pilot Program for SAFEs, SANEs, and other individuals who perform such examinations in consultation with the Department of Justice, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Indian Health Service, the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice, and the Office on Women’s Health of the Department of Health and Human Services and with input from regional and national organizations with expertise in forensic nursing, rape trauma or crisis counseling, investigating rape and gender violence cases, survivors’ advocacy and support, sexual assault prevention education, rural health, and responding to sexual violence in Native communities.
Such pilot program shall be 2 years in duration. The pilot program established under paragraph
(1)shall develop, pilot, implement, and update, as appropriate, continuing and clinical education program modules, webinars, and programs for all hospitals and providers to increase access to SANE and SAFE services and address ongoing competency issues in SAFE or SANE practice of care, including— training and continuing education to help support SAFEs or SANEs practicing in rural or underserved areas; training to help connect sexual assault survivors who are Native American with SAFEs or SANEs, including through emergency first aid, referrals, culturally competent support, and forensic evidence collection in rural communities; replication of successful SANE or SAFE programs to help develop and improve the evidence base for MFEs; and training to increase the number of medical professionals who are considered SAFEs or SANEs based on the recommendations of the National Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Training Standards issued by the Department of Justice on Violence Against Women. The Secretary shall ensure that SAFE or SANE services provided under the pilot program established under paragraph (1), and other medical forensic examiner services under the pilot program shall be provided by health care providers who are also one of the following: A physician, including a resident physician. A nurse practitioner. A nurse midwife. A physician assistant. A certified nurse specialist. A registered nurse. A community health practitioner or a community health aide who has completed level III or level IV certification and training requirements. The continuing education program established under this section shall incorporate and reflect current best practices and standards on MFEs consistent with the purpose of this section. After termination of the pilot program established under subsection (b)(1), the training and continuing education program established under such program shall be available to all SAFEs, SANEs, and other providers employed by, or any individual providing services through, facilities that receive Federal funding. The Task Force established under section 201 shall review and recommend updates to the training and continuing education program after the termination of the pilot program. The pilot program established under this section shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the date of such establishment. Upon termination of the pilot program as provided for in paragraph (1), the Secretary or the Task Force established under section 201 may implement modifications relating to training and continuing education requirements based on such program to increase access to SANE and SAFE services for survivors of sexual assault. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2021.