Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday signed into law HB 989, a bill that seeks to aid crime victims. Among other provisions, the measure provides for a victim-advocate to be present, upon request by the victim, during the forensic medical exam after a sexual assault. The new law also requires courts to order specified defendants to undergo HIV testing within 48 hours if the victim requests it; this expands the testing requirements of current law by adding the 48-hour time limit. The legislation raises, from $250 to $500, the amount a victim is reimbursed for the forensic exam.

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