Domestic violence; directing the District Attorneys Council to develop and implement a domestic violence forensic exam pilot program; codification; effective date
Summary
HB2606 creates a five-year Domestic Violence Forensic Exam Pilot Program to be administered by the District Attorneys Council, contingent on available funding. The program is designed to help counties provide domestic violence victims with forensic medical examinations performed by qualified licensed health care professionals. The bill also establishes a Domestic Violence Examination Fund in participating counties to pay for those exams.
The bill defines key terms used in the program, including domestic violence, intimate partner, household member, and qualified licensed health care professional. It limits reimbursement for a domestic violence forensic exam to no more than $200 per claim, with claims paid through procedures set by the Crime Victims Compensation Board and signed by the victim or guardian and the examiner. The District Attorneys Council is authorized to transfer money from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund, as provided in annual appropriations, and to enter contracts and execute documents needed to run the pilot program. The Legislature may also appropriate additional funds directly to the fund.
Impact
HB2606 would add a new section to Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes establishing a state-run pilot program for domestic violence forensic exams and creating a related county-level examination fund in participating counties. It gives the District Attorneys Council administrative authority and the Crime Victims Compensation Board payment authority, while allowing transfers from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund and additional legislative appropriations to support the program. The bill primarily affects domestic violence victims, counties eligible to participate, health care professionals qualified to perform exams, and the agencies responsible for funding and claims processing.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support in the House, passing the Criminal Judiciary Committee 6-0, the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee 12-0, and third reading 82-3. That voting pattern suggests strong bipartisan agreement that the pilot program is a worthwhile response to domestic violence needs. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record shows support but not detailed debate.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are funding and scope. The program is contingent on available funds, relies in part on transfers from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund, and caps reimbursement at $200 per exam, which could raise questions about whether the amount is sufficient. The bill also limits automatic participation to counties over 300,000 population, while allowing smaller counties to join only if the Crime Victims Compensation Board approves and funding is available. Those provisions suggest possible concerns about geographic equity, administrative discretion, and whether the pilot should be expanded beyond larger counties.