Bill
HB 2836
Arizona HB 2836 strengthens sexual‑assault survivor confidentiality with advocates and grants new rights during exams and interviews, boosting protections and access.
Note: the materials provided appear to combine text from two different bills both numbered HB 2836 — an Arizona bill concerning sexual‑assault survivors’ rights and privileges, and an Illinois bill creating an “Air Medal” specialty license plate. Below are separate, concise summaries for each measure.
Status & sponsors
- Introduced: Feb 14, 2025. Status shown as Rule 19(a) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee. Primary sponsor: Rep. Betty J. Villegas; cosponsors include Patty Contreras, Elda Luna‑Nájera, Junelle Cavero, Janeen Connolly, Cesar Aguilar, Christopher Mathis, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, Nancy Gutierrez, Quantá Crews.
Purpose / intent
- Strengthen confidentiality protections for communications between sexual‑assault survivors and sexual‑assault victim advocates, and enumerate additional statutory rights for survivors during medical exams, interviews, and evidence handling.
Key provisions
- Amends ARS §12‑2240 (sexual assault victim advocate privilege):
- Explicitly makes communications between survivor and advocate confidential and privileged, including information disclosed in presence of third parties during medical evidentiary/physical exams or law‑enforcement interviews.
- Clarifies that presence of an advocate does not defeat other existing privileges; a waiver of an advocate is itself privileged.
- Retains training requirement (minimum 30 hours) and reporting exceptions (e.g., duty to report under §13‑3620, perjury concerns).
- Allows in‑camera hearings if a party moves to disclose privileged communications and the court finds reasonable cause.
- Adds ARS §13‑4444 (sexual‑assault survivor rights):
- Right to consult with an advocate during any medical evidentiary exam and any interview by peace officers, prosecutors, or defense counsel (right persists despite prior waivers).
- Right not to be charged for costs of forensic medical exams.
- Right to obtain a forensic exam at any qualified in‑state provider or advocacy center.
- Pre‑exam and pre‑interview notice requirements: survivors must receive and sign an Attorney‑General‑developed document summarizing rights; informed whether an advocate can be summoned and consequences of delaying exams.
- Right to shower after the exam at no cost when facilities exist.
- Right to be interviewed by an officer/prosecutor of preferred gender where reasonably available.
- Right to counsel present at all stages of exams, investigations, or system interactions.
- Rights concerning sexual‑assault kit handling: prompt analysis per §13‑1426, lab retention rules, survivor ability to defer analysis in writing, and provider notification to jurisdictional law enforcement within 48 hours.
- Prohibits use of kits to prosecute survivors for certain misdemeanors or unrelated offenses (text truncated in provided copy).
Who is affected
- Sexual‑assault survivors, victim advocates and their programs, health care providers conducting forensic exams, hospitals, law enforcement, prosecutors, crime laboratories, and courts.
Potential impact
- Increases statutory confidentiality and procedural protections for survivors; may require AG to produce standardized notice and providers/labs to adopt revised notification/handling practices. Could affect evidence processing timelines and agency training/policy updates. Fiscal impacts depend on implementation (training, signage, administrative changes, forensic exam cost coverage).
Status & sponsors
- Introduced: Feb 6, 2025, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit. Committee actions and a House amendment filed March 6, 2025. Status includes committee referral and amendment activity; current procedural steps show committee consideration and placement on second reading calendar.
Purpose / intent
- Authorize Secretary of State to issue special vehicle registration plates (Air Medal plates) to eligible Illinois residents to recognize recipients of the U.S. Armed Forces Air Medal.
Key provisions (as introduced and amended)
- Adds 625 ILCS 5/3‑699.26 to the Illinois Vehicle Code:
- Secretary of State may issue "Air Medal" specialty plates upon receipt of required fees and application.
- Plates must display the Air Medal; otherwise design, color, format left to Secretary’s discretion.
- House Amendment 001 (3/6/2025): specifies issuance beginning with the 2027 registration year and restricts eligibility to residents who have been awarded the Air Medal by the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Plates to be affixed to passenger vehicles (second‑division vehicles weighing not more than 8,000 pounds); plates expire per multi‑year renewal procedures in Section 3‑414.1.
- Secretary may allow the plates as vanity/personalized and may prescribe eligibility documentation, stickers/decals; plates need not include "Land of Lincoln."
- Applicants must provide appropriate documentation as determined by the Secretary (proof of Air Medal award).
Who is affected
- Eligible veterans/servicemembers awarded the Air Medal, vehicle owners seeking specialty plates, and the Secretary of State’s office (administration and verification responsibilities).
Potential impact
- Provides symbolic recognition for Air Medal recipients; administrative workload for the Secretary of State to verify eligibility and produce plates. Revenue effects depend on special‑plate fees; minimal policy complexity. Implementation would begin with the 2027 registration year per the amendment.
If you want, I can: (1) produce separate one‑page fact sheets suitable for distribution, (2) extract likely fiscal considerations and agencies affected, or (3) track current committee status and next steps for either measure.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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