Whereas, this Act implements the recommendations of the Commission to Propose an Alternative Process for Forensic Examinations for Sexual Assault Victims; and

Whereas, the Legislature needs to provide swift relief so that victims of sexual assault will no longer have to pay the costs of forensic examinations; and

Whereas, this Act allows the Victims' Compensation Board and the Department of Public Safety to immediately begin their rulemaking in order to implement the Victims' Compensation Fund payment plan for forensic examinations and to develop a standardized forensic examination kit, respectively, by November 2000; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §3360-M is enacted to read:

§3360-M.__Payment for forensic examinations for alleged victims

of gross sexual assault

1.__Payment.__The board shall pay the costs of forensic examinations for alleged victims of gross sexual assault from the Victims' Compensation Fund.__The board shall track expenditures for forensic examinations separately from all other expenditures.__ Forensic examination payments are not subject to any other provision of this chapter.

2.__Forensic examination.__The board shall determine by rule what a forensic examination may include for purposes of payment.__ An examination must include at least all services directly related to the gathering of forensic evidence and related testing and treatment for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.__ The board shall pay a licensed hospital or licensed health care practitioner the actual cost of the forensic examination up to a maximum of $500.

3.__Process for payment.__A licensed hospital or licensed health care practitioner that performs forensic examinations for