AN ACT Relating to hospital notification of availability of sexual assault evidence kit collection; adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2019, any hospital that does not provide sexual assault evidence kit collection or does not have a provider available that can perform such collection, must notify any individual presenting at the emergency department requesting or requiring a sexual assault evidence kit collection that it does not perform sexual assault evidence kit collection. The notice must:

(a) Be provided verbally and in writing, within two hours of intake;

(b) List the nearest hospitals, health care facilities, and health care practitioners, as available, that provide sexual assault evidence kit collection;

(c) Be updated quarterly, as needed; and

(d) Include a statement in the written notice that the health care facilities and practitioners listed may be out-of-network or otherwise not covered by the individual's insurance.

(2) Failure of a hospital to comply with this section is punishable by a civil penalty of two thousand dollars.

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