Minimum Standards For Safe Programs

Sec. 323.053. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SAFE PROGRAMS. A SAFE program must: (1) operate under the active oversight of a medical director who is a physician licensed by and in good standing with the Texas Medical Board; (2) provide medical treatment under a physician's order, standing medical order, standing delegation order, or other order or protocol as defined by Texas Medical Board rules; (3) employ or contract with a sexual assault examiner or a sexual assault nurse examiner; (4) provide access to a sexual assault program advocate, as required by Subchapter H, Chapter 56A, Code of Criminal Procedure; (5) ensure a sexual assault survivor has access to a private treatment room; (6) if indicated by a survivor's history or on a survivor's request, provide: (A) HIV testing and prophylactic medication to the survivor or a referral for the testing and medication; and (B) counseling and prophylactic medications for exposure to sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy; (7) provide to survivors the name and telephone number of a nearby sexual assault program that provides to survivors the minimum services described by Subchapter A, Chapter 420, Government Code; (8) provide to survivors the information form required by Section 323.005, 323.0051, or 323.0052, as applicable; (9) collaborate with any sexual assault program, as defined by Section 420.003, Government Code, that provides services to survivors in the county; (10) engage in efforts to improve the quality of the program; (11) maintain capacity for appropriate triage or have agreements with other health facilities to assure that a survivor receives the appropriate level of care indicated for the survivor's medical and mental health needs; (12) prioritize the safety and well-being of survivors; (13) provide a trauma-informed approach in the forensic medical care provided to survivors; and (14) collaborate with: (A) law enforcement agencies and attorneys representing the state with jurisdiction in the county; (B) any available local sexual assault response team; and (C) other interested persons in the community. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 822 (H.B. 2706), Sec. 18, eff. September 1, 2021. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 365 (H.B. 47), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2025.