AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 12.1-34-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the reimbursement of medical screening and examination for sexual assault victims.
Summary
SB 2292 amends North Dakota Century Code section 12.1-34-07 to clarify and continue the state reimbursement process for certain services provided to sexual assault victims. The bill directs the attorney general, within legislative appropriations, to reimburse health care facilities or health care professionals for the reasonable costs of a medical screening and acute forensic medical examination when appropriate documentation is submitted.
The bill also requires the attorney general, subject to appropriations, to reimburse each accredited children's advocacy center in the state for forensic interviews that are not reimbursable by Medicaid or crime victims compensation. In practical terms, the measure supports the infrastructure used to respond to sexual assault and child abuse cases by shifting specified costs to the general fund and ensuring providers and advocacy centers can seek payment for covered services.
Impact
The bill amends an existing reimbursement statute in the criminal code, expanding or reaffirming state responsibility for paying certain sexual-assault-related medical and forensic services. It affects the attorney general’s duties, health care facilities, health care professionals, and accredited children's advocacy centers, while tying reimbursement to documentation requirements and available legislative appropriations. It does not create a new program so much as refine the funding and reimbursement rules for these victim services.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 47-0 and the House 89-0, indicating unanimous approval among voting members in both chambers. The lack of recorded committee discussion or dissent suggests the measure was viewed as a routine victim-services funding and reimbursement update rather than a contested policy change.
Contention
No notable opposition is reflected in the available record. The only practical constraint evident in the bill is that reimbursements are limited by legislative appropriations and by whether costs are otherwise reimbursable through Medicaid or crime victims compensation. Any potential policy concern would likely center on state fiscal exposure and the scope of reimbursable services, but no legislator or stakeholder opposition is documented in the provided materials.
AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 12.1-34-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the reimbursement of medical screening and examination for sexual assault victims.
AN ACT to amend and reenact section 12.1-34-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the expansion of medical examinations of victims of criminal conduct; and to provide an appropriation.
AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 13 of section 12.1-27.1-01 and section 12.1-27.1-03.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to sexually expressive images; and to provide a penalty.
AN ACT to amend and reenact subsections 2 and 6 of section 44-08-04, subsection 2 of section 54-03-20, and subsection 5 of section 54-06-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to authorized travel expense and lodging reimbursement rates.