KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker is sponsoring bipartisan bills aimed at providing better help to sexual assault victims.
Schuitmaker, R-Lawton, said the package includes legislation that will help victims gain access to the best medical care after an attack.
“It will increase funding for the front-line providers that often take rape kits and perform sexual assault examinations,” Schuitmaker said.
It also includes amendments in state law to help prosecutors.
“You could use prior bad acts of women coming forward saying they were sexually assaulted against the person at trial,” Schuitmaker said.
Currently, prosecutors can only use that testimony in cases where children are victims.
The package was introduced last week.
