[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2703 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2703

   To establish eligibility, assignment, training, and certification 
   requirements for sexual assault forensic examiners for the Armed 
                    Forces, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 30, 2014

Mrs. Boxer (for herself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish eligibility, assignment, training, and certification 
   requirements for sexual assault forensic examiners for the Armed 
                    Forces, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Military SAFE Standards Act''.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINERS FOR 
              THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Personnel Eligible for Assignment.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        individuals who may be assigned to duty as a sexual assault 
        forensic examiner (SAFE) for the Armed Forces shall be members 
        of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel of the Department of 
        Defense or Department of Homeland Security who are as follows:
                    (A) Physicians.
                    (B) Nurse practitioners.
                    (C) Nurse midwives.
                    (D) Physician assistants.
                    (E) Registered nurses.
            (2) Independent duty corpsmen.--An independent duty 
        corpsman or equivalent may be assigned to duty as a sexual 
        assault forensic examiner for the Armed Forces if the 
        assignment of an individual specified in paragraph (1) is 
        impracticable.
    (b) Availability of Examiners.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary concerned shall ensure the 
        availability of an adequate number of sexual assault forensic 
        examiners for the Armed Forces through the following:
                    (A) Assignment of at least one sexual assault 
                forensic examiner at each military medical treatment 
                facility under the jurisdiction of such Secretary, 
                whether in the United States or overseas.
                    (B) If assignment as described in subparagraph (A) 
                is infeasible or impracticable, entry into agreements 
                with facilities, whether Governmental or otherwise, 
                with appropriate resources for the provision of sexual 
                assault forensic examinations, for the provision of 
                sexual assault forensic examinations for the Armed 
                Forces.
            (2) Naval vessels.--The Secretary concerned shall ensure 
        the availability of an adequate number of sexual assault 
        forensic examiners for naval vessels through the assignment of 
        at least one sexual assault forensic examiner for each naval 
        vessel.
    (c) Training and Certification.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary concerned shall establish 
        and maintain, and update when appropriate, a training and 
        certification program for sexual assault forensic examiners 
        under the jurisdiction of such Secretary. The training and 
        certification programs shall apply uniformly to all sexual 
        assault forensic examiners under the jurisdiction of the 
        Secretaries.
            (2) Elements.--Each training and certification program 
        under this subsection shall include the following:
                    (A) Training in sexual assault forensic 
                examinations by qualified personnel who possess--
                            (i) a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner--
                        adolescent/adult (SANE-A) certification or 
                        equivalent certification; or
                            (ii) training and clinical or forensic 
                        experience in sexual assault forensic 
                        examinations similar to that required for a 
                        certification described in clause (i).
                    (B) A minimum of 40 hours of coursework for 
                participants in sexual assault forensic examinations of 
                adults and adolescents.
                    (C) Ongoing examinations and evaluations on sexual 
                assault forensic examinations.
                    (D) Clinical mentoring.
                    (E) Continuing education.
            (3) Nature of training.--The training provided under each 
        training and certification program under this subsection shall 
        incorporate and reflect current best practices and standards on 
        sexual assault forensic examinations.
            (4) Applicability of training requirements.--An individual 
        may not be assigned to duty as a sexual assault forensic 
        examiner for the Armed Forces after the date that is one year 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act unless the 
        individual has completed all training required under the 
        training and certification program under this subsection at the 
        time of assignment.
            (5) Sense of congress on certification.--It is the sense of 
        Congress that each participant who successfully completes all 
        training required under the certification and training program 
        under this subsection should obtain a Sexual Assault Nurse 
        Examiner--adolescent/adult certification or equivalent 
        certification by not later than five years after completion of 
        such training.
            (6) Examiners under agreements.--Any individual providing 
        sexual assault forensic examinations for the Armed Forces under 
        an agreement under subsection (b)(1)(B) shall possess training 
        and experience equivalent to the training and experience 
        required under the training and certification program under 
        this subsection.
    (d) Secretary Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term 
``Secretary concerned'' means--
            (1) the Secretary of Defense with respect to matters 
        concerning the Department of Defense; and
            (2) the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to 
        matters concerning the Coast Guard when it is not operating as 
        a service in the Navy.
    (e) Repeal of Superseded Requirements.--Section 1725 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 
113-66; 127 Stat. 971) is amended by striking subsection (b) (10 U.S.C. 
1561 note).
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