Rape billing final passage

Rep. Helena Moreno, D-New Orleans, concurs with Senate amendments on House Bill 835 before the house gives unanimous it final passage along with sister bill HB 143. The legislation, which would effectively end the practice of hospitals billing rape victims following sexual assault exams, goes to Gov. Bobby Jindal for signature.

(Louisiana House of Representatives)

Louisiana's sexual assault victims will no longer face hefty hospital bills for medical costs associated with rape exams under legislation headed to Gov. Bobby Jindal's office for signature.

The Louisiana House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 2) gave final, unanimous passage to a pair of bills designed to prohibit hospitals from billing rape victims.

Together, House Bills 853 and 143 by Rep. Helena Moreno, D-New Orleans, call for all of the state's hospital regions to develop state-approved plans for how to respond to and care for victims of sexual crime while also drawing dollars from unclaimed gambling winnings to help pay for the exams.

Jindal is expected to sign both pieces of legislation into law.

Last year, after NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reported on the matter, Jindal's office issued two executive orders designed to address some of the problems that led rape victims to receive thousands of dollars in hospital bills without clear recourse.

Once in law, the new legislation will bring Louisiana into stronger compliance with the federal Violence Against Women Act, which demands that victims are not to bear the expense of paying for their rape exams, regardless of income.

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Rebecca Catalanello can be reached at rcatalanello@nola.com and 504.717.7701.