A sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) is a registered nurse who has been formally trained to provide comprehensive health care to survivors of sexual assault, including forensic examinations.  There is no state-issued license or endorsement for a SANE.  The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) grants SANE certification to registered nurses who complete training that meets the IAFN SANE Education Guidelines, meet clinical practice requirements, pass an examination, and comply with ongoing training requirements.
 
Legislation passed in 2018 required the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) within the Department of Commerce to develop strategies to make SANE training available to nurses in all regions of the state without requiring unreasonable travel or expense.  In 2019 the Department of Commerce subsequently published the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Report, which recommended best practices that communities may use to increase access to SANEs.  The report also recommended that the Legislature create a training program and a scholarship fund to assist nurses with the costs related to attending training.

The Department of Health (DOH) must establish a stipend program to defray the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by licensed nurses completing the training necessary to become certified sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs).  A nurse may receive a stipend of up to $2,500 to cover eligible expenses, including training fees, transportation expenses and lodging costs, and wages lost as a result of the time spent completing the training. 
 
The DOH is required to establish a hospital grant program to increase access to certified SANEs for hospitals without sufficient access.  The DOH must provide grant funding to any hospital that sufficiently demonstrates that grant funding will be used effectively to address the hospital's needs for certified SANEs.  A hospital receiving grant funds must submit reports to the DOH at regular intervals regarding the use and effectiveness of the funds.