In Texas, sexual assault survivors are not guaranteed to receive their civil rights. They are left to navigate a system within a patchwork of policies largely on their own. As reports of sexual violence have only increased in Texas and around the world during COVID, survivors in Texas need civil rights protections now more than ever.

Currently, a bill has been introduced to the Texas House of Representatives, HB 3917, to ensure these rights in our state. This is imperative as survivors deserve to have these rights ensured. 

Texas has the opportunity to pass a Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights that will guarantee comprehensive, common sense civil rights for survivors.

Four Key Civil Rights in Texas House Bill 3917:

1. The right to shower at no cost to the survivor after the examination.

2. The right to not be charged for your own rape kit examination.

3. The right to be informed of your rights in the hospital, including being notified of how long the rape kit evidence will be retained and preserved.

4. The right to access a sexual assault program advocate.

Some states do not cover the full medical expenses of a kit, leaving survivors to pay their own way towards justice. Most states do not allow the victim to shower at no cost after a rape kit examination. The lack of these rights has inspired us to act.

This is a crisis for over 25 million survivors across America and 8 million survivors in Texas, and it's time for our legislators to do something about it. We need your voice and your support! Let the Texas legislators know it is time to prioritize sexual violence survivors!

To view the bill’s language and progress:

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=87R&Bill=HB3917