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Mississippi Senate discusses bill requiring hospitals to have rape kits
Kyndall Jones
Reporter
Mississippi Senate discusses bill requiring hospitals to have rape kits
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      YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WAPT. COM OR OUR MOBILE APP. THE DEADLINE FOR A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO HAVE RAPE KITS IS LOOMING IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.. SENATE BILL 22-11 WOULD REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO HAVE A SUPPLY OF RAPE KITS AND STAFF TO PERFORM THEM. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE DANA MCLEAN AUTHORED A SIMILAR BILL--HOUSE BILL 928 THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE HOUSE, BUT DIED IN COMMITTEE. NOW THE LANGUAGE FROM THAT HOUSE BILL IS INCLUDED IN SENATE BILL 22-11, BUT ACCORDING TO MCLEAN ...THE BILL IS RECEIVING PUSHBACK FROM THE MISSISSIPPI HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION. MCLEAN SAYS THIS BILL IS TO HELP VICTIMS SO THEY AREN'T TURNED AWAY AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. DANA MCLEAN/ HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 39 <STEP ONE IS TO HAVE A RAPE KIT PERFORMED. IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT, THEN THAT PERPETRATOR GOES FREE AND IS ABLE TO COMMIT THAT CRIME ALL OVER AGAIN. SO THAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS BILL.> WE DID REACH OUT TO THE MISSISSIPPI HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION FOR COMMENT, IN A STATEMENT THEY SAID "WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT ANYONE WOULD ACCUSE THE MISSISSIPPI HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING AGAINST THIS BILL. MHA HAS MET WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND OFFERED LANGUAGE TO STRENGTHEN THE BILL SO THAT IT CONFORMS T
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      Mississippi Senate discusses bill requiring hospitals to have rape kits
      Kyndall Jones
      Reporter
      Senate Bill 2211, which would require hospitals in Mississippi to have a supply of rape kits and staff trained to perform them, is currently being discussed in the Senate.State Rep. Dana McLean authored a similar bill, House Bill 928, which passed unanimously in the House but died in committee. The language from that bill is now included in Senate Bill 2211. McLean said this measure aims to help victims so they are not turned away."Step one is to have a rape kit performed. If we're not able to do that, then that perpetrator goes free and is able to commit that crime all over again. So, that is the significance of this bill," McLean said.In a statement, the Mississippi Hospital Association said, "We are disappointed that anyone would accuse the Mississippi Hospital Association of working against this bill. MHA has met with stakeholders and offered language to strengthen the bill so that it conforms to federal law. MHA has been and is supportive of the legislation."
      JACKSON, Miss. —

      Senate Bill 2211, which would require hospitals in Mississippi to have a supply of rape kits and staff trained to perform them, is currently being discussed in the Senate.

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      State Rep. Dana McLean authored a similar bill, House Bill 928, which passed unanimously in the House but died in committee. The language from that bill is now included in Senate Bill 2211.

      McLean said this measure aims to help victims so they are not turned away.

      "Step one is to have a rape kit performed. If we're not able to do that, then that perpetrator goes free and is able to commit that crime all over again. So, that is the significance of this bill," McLean said.

      In a statement, the Mississippi Hospital Association said, "We are disappointed that anyone would accuse the Mississippi Hospital Association of working against this bill. MHA has met with stakeholders and offered language to strengthen the bill so that it conforms to federal law. MHA has been and is supportive of the legislation."