Bill Overview
Title: SANE Act
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and otherwise revises the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program. This program provides grants for training, technical assistance, education, equipment, and information relating to the identification, collection, preservation, analysis, and use of DNA samples and other evidence by medical personnel and other professionals treating victims of sexual assault. Among other changes, the bill (1) expands the types of entities that are eligible to receive a grant under the program; (2) expands the allowable uses of these grants, including to provide full- and part-time salaries for sexual assault nurse examiners and sexual assault forensic examiners; and (3) requires the Department of Justice to establish and update annually a public website on access to forensic nurse examiners.
Sponsors: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault globally
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill directly supports medical personnel, specifically sexual assault nurse examiners and forensic examiners, by providing grants to cover full- or part-time salaries.
- Victims of sexual assault are indirectly supported, as the bill aims to improve the quality and availability of forensic examinations by expanding training and resources for medical professionals.
- The bill could enable more healthcare facilities to employ or contract sexual assault nurse examiners by aiding financial support, thus broadening service availability.
- By improving the infrastructure around DNA evidence collection and analysis, the bill impacts future investigations and adjudications related to sexual assaults.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes both direct and indirect beneficiaries: caregivers (medical and forensic professionals) and patients (sexual assault victims).
- The program directly benefits medical personnel by offering financial support, which may lead to higher job satisfaction and more comprehensive care capabilities.
- Victims of sexual assault are indirectly supported, as the policy aims to improve the quality of care and availability of forensic examinations.
- Given the annual budget constraint, not all regions or facilities might see an immediate impact, necessitating strategic allocation based on high-demand areas or underserved locations.
- The policy's success may be partly measured by improved self-reported wellbeing scores from both service providers and recipients, reflecting better care delivery and outcomes.
Simulated Interviews
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding allows me to further specialize and improve the care I give my patients.
- With the new resources, I can take on more cases and improve the judicial outcomes for victims.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Forensic Science Technician (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expansion of grant eligibility increases our resources for DNA analysis, which is crucial for solving cases.
- More trained personnel will lessen the workload and potentially speed up case resolutions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Emergency Room Physician (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having specialized examiners on staff relieves some of the pressure on our ER team.
- This could lead to better support and outcomes for our patients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better access to trained professionals will provide more complete and supportive care for survivors.
- I hope this leads to quicker justice and less backlog in cases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Police Detective (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to more thorough evidence collection will aid investigations significantly.
- Faster turnarounds in lab results could help solve cases faster, benefiting victims.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Social Worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could mean my clients get the evidence support they need for legal actions.
- Improved medical response would likely reduce trauma in the aftermath.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The enhanced access to exams and evidence collection is crucial for justice.
- It’s a step towards making victims feel their cases are important and not forgotten.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Hospital Administrator (Charleston, WV)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With the grants, we could afford dedicated forensic nurses, which is currently impossible.
- This would be a game-changer for our rural community and justice systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Public Defender (Boston, MA)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy may provide more robust evidence that can expedite court processes.
- Balancing the use of evidence in a fair manner will also require attention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
University Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding for more examiners could lead to better educational outcomes in my field of interest.
- It's encouraging to see real steps taken toward improving forensic capabilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $13000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $16000000)
Year 3: $14000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $17000000)
Year 5: $16000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $19000000)
Year 10: $20000000 (Low: $17000000, High: $23000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $85000000, High: $115000000)
Key Considerations
- Determining the appropriate grant sizes and ensuring equitable distribution among eligible entities is crucial.
- Maintaining updated infrastructure and training programs will be ongoing challenges.
- Sustainability of funding post FY2027 needs strategic planning to prevent disruptions.
- Coordination with state and local governments and other stakeholders is necessary to optimize impact.