Urge Court to encourage remote testimony of sexual assault nurses

sr359_00_IN

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
S. R. No. 359

2025-2026

Senator
Reynolds

A
R E S O L U T I O N

To
urge the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio judicial system to
encourage remote appearances of sexual assault nurse examiners in
sexual assault trials so that sexual assault nurse examiners can
spend less time in courtrooms and more time providing valuable
services to victims of sexual assault.

BE
IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

WHEREAS,
Sexual assault is a profound trauma with lasting effects; and

WHEREAS,
Approximately fifty per cent of rape victims go on to develop PTSD,
which is higher than the rates of most other groups exposed to
trauma, including frontline soldiers and survivors of terrorist
attacks, and this PTSD is associated with long-term health
deterioration, including elevated risk for cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, and some cancers; and

WHEREAS,
The estimated lifetime cost of rape for a victim, including medical
costs, lost work, and mental health costs is over $122,000; and

WHEREAS,
Research shows that the majority of sexual assaults are committed by
people who offend repeatedly, across time, often undetected or
uncharged; and

WHEREAS,
Survivors who receive care from trained, trauma-informed
professionals are more likely to complete forensic exams, cooperate
in legal processes, seek ongoing healthcare, and are less likely to
experience secondary trauma; and

WHEREAS,
Care by a sexual assault nurse examiner is critical to the healing
process and law enforcement investigations; and

WHEREAS,
Lack of access to care by a sexual assault nurse examiner also
results in crucial evidence being lost each hour of delay, as
injuries go untreated, and evidence, such as DNA or substances in
bloodstream degrades; and

WHEREAS,
The inability of a sexual assault nurse examiner to be on call
twenty-four hours a day has led to severe coverage gaps, which
results in victims not receiving sexual assault nurse examiner
services or substantially delayed services; and

WHEREAS,
The 2021 Supreme Court of Ohio Task Force on Improving Court
Operations Using Remote Technology ("Supreme Court of Ohio Task
Force") found that allowing remote appearances incentivizes
participants to appear at court by reducing travel costs and allowing
participants to take less time off of work; and

WHEREAS,
The Supreme Court of Ohio Task Force found that there are many
benefits of remote appearances; now therefore be it

RESOLVED,
That we, the members of the Ohio Senate of the 136th General
Assembly, find that ensuring sexual assault nurse examiner services
remain available for as long as possible is an important state
interest; and be it further

RESOLVED,
That we, the members of the Ohio Senate of the 136th General
Assembly, find that it is the public policy of the State of Ohio that
any unnecessary delay of specialized care for sexual assault victims
is contrary to the interests of Ohioans; and be it further

RESOLVED,
That we, the members of the Ohio Senate of the 136th General
Assembly, hereby urge the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio judicial
system to recognize the important state interest and public policy
stated herein when evaluating the necessity of requiring in-person
testimony for hearings which would prevent a sexual assault nurse
examiner from being able to provide immediate care; and be it further

RESOLVED,
That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly authenticated copies of
this resolution to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio and
all members of the Supreme Court of Ohio.