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SF 2502

A bill for an act establishing a sexual assault forensic examination center grant program and trust fund.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Creates a state-funded grant program and trust fund to support survivor-centered, multidisciplinary sexual assault forensic services with annual reporting and transparency.

Withdrawn.
#felonies #grants #sexualabuse #victims #attorneygeneral #nonprofitentities
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Bill Summary · SF 2502

Summary of S.F. 2502 (Session 2025-2026) — Iowa

Title: A bill for an act establishing a sexual assault forensic examination center grant program and trust fund

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a structured program and dedicated funding mechanism to support sexual assault forensic examination services.
  • Prioritize survivor-centered care by coordinating investigation, assessment, and rehabilitative services through a multidisciplinary approach.
  • Ensure services are accessible to sexual assault survivors and tailored to address the best interests of survivors.

Key provisions and changes

Multidisciplinary approach (Section 4, subsections d–e)

  • Require involvement or consultation with professionals from diverse disciplines as needed to handle serious sexual assault cases. Examples include:
    • Physicians and other health care professionals
    • Law enforcement
    • Mental health professionals
    • Social workers
    • Child protection workers
    • Attorneys
    • Juvenile court officers
    • Public health workers
    • Educators
    • Advocates
  • The aim is to address complex or “special types” of sexual assault, including cases involving intimate partner violence, dating violence, domestic violence, incest, human trafficking, and drug-facilitated sexual assault.

Annual reporting (Section 4, subsection e)

  • Requires an annual report to the attorney general and the general assembly by January 15 each calendar year.
  • Report contents (aggregated and anonymized):
    • Types of services offered
    • Total number of unduplicated clients served
    • Demographic breakdown (including age, gender, county of residence)
    • Number of individuals by county trained
    • Referrals to other agencies or services
    • Description of service gaps identified during the reporting period
    • Barriers to service access identified
  • Purpose: provide transparency on service delivery and areas needing improvement.

Non-restriction on funding sources (Section 4, subsection 5)

  • Clarifies that requirements related to the reporting and multidisciplinary collaboration do not restrict a contracting nonprofit organization from seeking funding or reimbursement from other sources.

Creation of a grant program and trust fund (Section 4, subsections 6–7)

  • Establish a dedicated Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Center Grant Program Trust Fund in the state treasury, under the control of the Iowa Department of Justice (DOJ).
  • Authority for DOJ to receive various funds for deposit into the trust fund, including:
    • Gifts, grants, bequests, and other private contributions
    • State or federal moneys
  • All money deposited into the trust fund is appropriated and made available to DOJ for purposes connected to the grant program.

Who is affected

  • Sexual assault survivors who access forensic examination and related services (through center grants and program support).
  • Multidisciplinary professionals involved in investigations and survivor care (healthcare providers, law enforcement, mental health professionals, social and child protection workers, attorneys, educators, advocates, etc.).
  • Nonprofit organizations contracted to provide forensic examination and supportive services (subject to grant funding and reporting requirements).
  • Iowa Department of Justice, which would administer the grant program and manage the trust fund in coordination with the treasury.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and placement on Appropriations calendar occurred on May 1, 2026.
  • Committee action: Bill approved by the committee on May 1, 2026.
  • Final status notes indicate action in the Senate Full Appropriations process (NOBA: Senate Full Appropriations) as of May 1, 2026.
  • Annual reporting deadline: January 15 each calendar year.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Increases dedicated funding and formal structure for sexual assault forensic examination centers.
  • Promotes comprehensive, survivor-centered care with a multidisciplinary framework.
  • Improves data collection and accountability through standardized annual reporting.
  • May enhance coordination across agencies and service providers, potentially improving access and outcomes for survivors.
  • Requires ongoing reporting and compliance from grant recipients, with potential effects on nonprofit operations and funding stability.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current Iowa law or draft a plain-language one-page Q&A for public distribution.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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