Bill would have state pay for rape victim treatment
A minority version of Senate Bill 752 is in the House, and
could be passed soon to the Oregon Senate for concurrence
By A. Sho Ikeda
Reporter
Rape victims will be given access to emergency contraceptives at
no cost if Senate Bill 752, a bipartisan effort, passes the Oregon
1 louse of Representatives before the I legislature ends its session.
The bill has drawn fire from state legislators and anti-abortion
groups, but there may now be only a few obstacles to SB 752 be
coming law.
The bill would create a fund, supported by grants and dona
tions, to pay for medical treatment and emergency contraception
for sexual assault victims.
Kevin Neely, spokesman for the office of the attorney general,
said the bill would allow hospitals and other medical facilities to
charge the state fund for medical treatment of rape victims. Cur
rently, many hospitals charge local law enforcement, which may
refuse to pay for treatment.
"Ihis way, we can ensure that the administration of treatment is
paid for the victim," Neely said.
Michelle Edwards, community education coordinator for Sexual
Assault Support Services of Line County, said the availability of emer
gency contraception is inconsistent across the state, and she said she
hoped the legislation would allow more access for Oregonians.
"I think it's a good move by the state," Edwards said. "It sounds
like emergency contraceptives will be more accessible for everyone."
When first drafted in the Senate, the bill provided funds for
r
both emergency contraception and medical treatment, but the
Senate erased that portion of the measure before moving it to the
I louse. I louse Democrats then wrote a minority version of the
bill at the committee level that reattached the provision covering
emergency contraceptives.
Alan Fleischman — a legislative assistant for Rep. Jeff Barker,
D-Aloha, who sponsored the minority version of the bill — said
the bill got tied up in "abortion politics" in the Senate, adding
that Barker thinks rape victims should not have to pay for medical
treatment or any emergency contraceptives they may need.
Dan McCullough, director of Christian anti-abortion group
Survivors, said the organization supports immediate medical at
tention for victims of sexual assault, but does not support the ad
ministration of free emergency contraception.
"Because of the likeliness of an abortion occurring after fertilization,
emergency contraception goes against our ideals," McCullough said.
Diane Duke, associate executive director of Planned Parent
hood Health Services of Southwestern Oregon, said the fund es
tablished by the bill would be vital for victims of sexual assault.
"In our dreams we would hope that emergency contraceptives
would be easily available to all," Duke said. "But it is doubly im
portant to have these treatments available to victims of rape."
Duke said many University students need to have easier access
to emergency contraception. Incidents of date rape are not un
common in a college environment, Duke explained, adding that
the University 1 lealth Center offers free emergency contraceptives
through the Planned Parenthood program. Emergency contra
ception is not yet provided from the state. I lowever, according to
tire attorney general's office.
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Plan B would be provided to rape victims for free if Senate Bill 752 passes.
If the House approves the measure, it will go to the Senate, which
is split 15-15 between Democrats and Republicans, for concurrence.
Contact the reporter at shoikeda@dailyemerald.com.
o
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