Effective August 1, 2024, the Louisiana Act No. 669 goes into affect, Sexual Assault Survivor’s Bill of Rights. In May, the legislature voted unanimously in favor of this bill. On June 18th, 2024, Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill and it takes effect today.
Hospitals and other healthcare providers must allow an adult sexual assault survivor to decide whether or not to report the assault to law enforcement. Legally, healthcare providers must provide care and treatment regardless of the survivor’s decision. If the survivor wants to report the assault, the hospital will contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
For survivors under the age of 18 or physically or mentally disabled, hospitals and other healthcare providers must immediately report the assault to law enforcement.
All survivors have access to an advocate to help them with the medical care, examination and law enforcement if they choose to do so. Any communications with the advocate are confidential.
Forensic examinations are undertaken only with the consent of the adult survivor. The forensic sexual assault kits are given to law enforcement within 72 hours and do not remain at the hospital.
The Crime Victim Reparations Board pays for these forensic examinations and not the survivor.
