South Dakota statute
SDCL § 22-22-26.7 — Forensic medical examination--Hospitals--Policies and procedures
Current through text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session)
Part of Chapter 22: Sex Offenses, South Dakota Codified Laws.
Full text of SDCL § 22-22-26.7
Statutory text current through the text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of South Dakota.
A hospital licensed in accordance with chapter 34-12, except a specialized hospital, shall establish and maintain policies and procedures regarding the administration of forensic medical examinations. The policies and procedures must:
(1) State whether the hospital provides forensic medical examinations on-site;
(2) If the hospital does not provide examinations on-site, or if a provider is not available, address timely transfers and referrals to another hospital or clinic that provides examinations, in order to best preserve the integrity of forensic evidence;
(3) If the hospital provides examinations on-site, address how the hospital coordinates with law enforcement agencies for the processing, storage, and maintenance of the chain of custody of evidence;
(4) Address how the hospital coordinates with the sexual assault response team that provides services to the county in which the hospital is located, if applicable; and
(5) Address how the hospital provides information, to a patient requesting an examination, on the availability of and resources from victim advocates.
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