North Coast California News

Assemblymember Laurie Davies of Laguna Niguel has introduced a new bill, AB 229, aimed at strengthening protections for sexual assault victims. The proposed legislation would permit victims to petition the court to test defendants for various sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).

"Sexual Assault is one of the most heinous crimes that can be done to a person," stated Davies. She emphasized the potential health risks if perpetrators carry STDs, which could pose serious healthcare challenges for victims.

Davies described AB 229 as "a common-sense measure" designed to allow victims to request court-ordered testing of their assailants. This testing would help healthcare providers quickly identify and treat any infections, thereby reducing the risk of long-term health complications such as infertility or chronic pain.

Currently, the law does not allow victims of crimes involving bodily fluid transmission to compel STD testing of defendants beyond HIV. Additionally, parents or guardians cannot request such testing on behalf of minor victims. AB 229 aims to address these limitations by permitting comprehensive STD testing and enabling parents to make requests when the victim is a minor.

Assemblywoman Laurie Davies represents California's 74th Assembly District, covering parts of southern Orange County and northern San Diego County.