                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINER COORDINATION PROGRAM (§ 9.1-191)

A. The Department shall establish the Virginia Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner
Coordination Program (the Program). The Program shall be headed by a coordinator
(the Coordinator). The Coordinator shall:

   1. Create and coordinate an annual statewide sexual assault forensic nurse
   examiner training program in partnership with the Attorney General, the
   Department of Health, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, the
   Victim Compensation Fund, the International Association of Forensic Nurses,
   the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and the Virginia Forensic Nursing
   Advisory Council;

   2. Coordinate the development and enhancement of sexual assault forensic
   examiner programs across the Commonwealth that include prevention of secondary
   trauma to survivors of sexual assault and culturally sensitive training for
   health professionals;

   3. Participate in the development of hospital protocols and guidelines for
   treatment of survivors of sexual assault in partnership with the Department of
   Health;

   4. Coordinate and strengthen communications among sexual assault nurse
   examiner medical directors, sexual assault response teams, and hospitals for
   existing and developing sexual assault nurse examiner programs;

   5. Provide technical assistance for existing and developing sexual assault
   forensic examiner programs, including local sexual assault forensic examiner
   training programs;

   6. Create and maintain a statewide list, updated biannually, to include the
   following:
   				a. A list of available sexual assault forensic examiners, sexual assault
   nurse examiners, sexual assault forensic nurse examiners, and pediatric sexual
   assault nurse examiners;
   				b. The location and facility affiliation of each examiner;
   				c. The duty hours for each examiner and affiliated facility for sexual
   assault exam services; and
   				d. The location of available local sexual assault forensic examiner
   training programs;

   7. Coordinate, share, and disseminate the list created pursuant to subdivision
   6 to the emergency operations communications system available to emergency
   medical services and law-enforcement agencies as well as the internal
   emergency and hospital communications system;

   8. Share and disseminate the list created pursuant to subdivision 6 with all
   other relevant agencies, including law-enforcement agencies, attorneys for the
   Commonwealth, victim-witness programs, sexual assault service organizations,
   the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Social Services, the
   Department of Education, and school divisions;

   9. Create sexual assault nurse examiner recruitment materials for universities
   and colleges with nursing programs in partnership with the State Council of
   Higher Education for Virginia; and

   10. Support and coordinate community education and public outreach, when
   appropriate, relating to sexual assault nurse examiner issues for the
   Commonwealth.

B. The Coordinator may request and shall receive from every department,
division, board, bureau, commission, authority, or other agency created by the
Commonwealth, or to which the Commonwealth is a party, or any political
subdivision thereof, cooperation and assistance in the performance of its
duties. The Coordinator may also consult and exchange information with local
government agencies and interested stakeholders.

C. The Coordinator shall report annually on or before October 1 to the Governor
and the General Assembly. The report shall include a summary of activities for
the year and any recommendations to address sexual assault exams within the
Commonwealth, including budget needs to increase the availability of sexual
assault exam services across the Commonwealth. The Department shall ensure that
such report is available to the public.

HISTORY: 2020, cc. 274, 276; 2025, cc. 529, 538.