North Dakota Legislature Passes Bill to Reduce Sexual Assault Survivors' Wait Time for Results of Alleged Attackers' HIV Test

The North Dakota House on Thursday voted 92-1 to pass a bill (SB 2358) that would reduce the time sexual assault survivors must wait for the results of an HIV test on their alleged attackers, the Associated Press reports (Associated Press, 3/15). Under the bill, prosecuting attorneys would inform assault survivors that they can request the alleged attacker be tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections if the alleged attacker is criminally charged. If the survivor requests the test, the court would order it to be administered within 48 hours. The court could order the test only if requested by the survivor or prosecuting attorney. The court would then determine whether probable cause exists to believe that the survivor contracted HIV or another STI during the attack. A copy of the test results would be released to the alleged attacker's physician and to the survivor's physician (SB 2358 text, 3/15).

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