The Idaho Senate has voted 34-1 in favor of legislation to change the current practice in which victims of sexual assault have their health insurance charged for the cost of forensic exams to gather evidence of the crime from their bodies. “The forensic examination is a very stressful process,” Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, told the Senate. “It takes about three hours. … Sexual assault is the only crime in Idaho where the victim’s insurance is billed for forensic evidence collection.”

Sen. Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, said, “We’re not asking any other crime victims to pay for these things, so I would encourage your support.”

The one “no” vote came from Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow; he didn’t say why. The bill earlier passed the House with just one “no” vote, from Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens.

The measure, HB  429a, proposed by Rep. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, has 11 co-sponsors from both parties and both houses. Because it was amended in the Senate, the bill now goes back to the House for concurrence in the Senate amendment.