Haw. Rev. Stat. § 325-16.5

Current through Chapter 253 of the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 325-16.5 - Counseling and testing of sexual assault victims; testing of sex offenders upon request of victim

(a) Any sexual assault victim, or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim, shall be informed as soon as practicable after the assault, of the availability of human immunodeficiency virus testing for the victim, the availability of counseling for the victim, and the right of the victim to request that the person charged with an offense listed in section 325-16(c)(7), involving the victim, be tested for human immunodeficiency virus. The victim, or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim, and the charged person shall be provided human immunodeficiency virus counseling prior to being tested, and follow-up counseling at the time the results are presented to the victim or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim and the charged person.

Any sexual assault victim, or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim, shall be informed as soon as practicable after a conviction, of the availability of human immunodeficiency virus testing for the victim, the availability of counseling for the victim, and the right of the victim to demand that the person convicted of an offense listed in section 325-16(c)(8), involving the victim, be tested for human immunodeficiency virus. The victim, or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim, and the convicted person shall be provided human immunodeficiency virus counseling prior to being tested, and follow-up counseling at the time the results are presented to the victim or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim and the convicted person.

(b) The court shall order a charged person to be tested for the etiological agent for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) if the victim has requested that the person be tested for HIV. The following procedures shall be used when ordering the test:

(1) The victim or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim shall be informed, as soon as practicable, of the right to request that the charged person be tested for HIV, the availability of department of health funded HIV testing for the victim, and the availability of HIV counseling for the victim. If the victim or parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim requests the HIV status of a charged person, the victim, parent, or guardian shall designate a physician or a certified HIV counselor to receive the test result, provide counseling, and notify the victim, parent, or guardian of the test result;

(2) If the victim or parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim requests, in writing, that the charged person be tested for HIV, the court shall order the person to submit to an HIV test subject to a showing of probable cause. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, for purposes of determining probable cause for this order, a court may consider all relevant facts indicating whether HIV transmission is demonstrated by the preponderance of the evidence. The proceedings to determine whether or not such an order is issued shall be in camera.

Whenever practicable, blood samples taken for HIV testing under this section shall be taken in conjunction with samples taken for DNA testing under section 706-603; provided that the HIV test results shall not be disclosed to any person other than the physician or HIV counselor designated to receive the results by the victim or the parent or the guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim.

The HIV test results shall remain otherwise confidential and the court may fashion orders to effectuate the prohibition against dissemination of the information. The adult probation division shall not disclose the HIV test results obtained under this section through any report. The court shall not take into account the HIV test results obtained under this section for any purpose, including determination of pretrial release of defendants, trial and sentencing. The Hawaii paroling authority shall not take into account the HIV test results obtained under this section for any purpose, including determination of minimum terms of incarceration and granting or denying of parole.

(c) The court shall order a convicted person to be tested for the etiological agent for HIV. The procedures used when ordering the test shall be as follows:

(1) The victim or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim shall be informed, as soon as practicable, of the court order mandating the convicted person be tested for HIV, the availability of department of health funded HIV testing for the victim, and the availability of HIV counseling for the victim. The victim, parent, or guardian shall designate a physician or a certified HIV counselor to receive the test results of the convicted person, provide counseling, and notify the victim, parent, or guardian of the test results; and

(2) The proceedings to issue such an order shall be in camera.

(d) The results of the charged or convicted person's HIV test shall be forwarded by the laboratory to the designated physician or HIV counselor, and shall be released by the physician, in consultation with the department of health or the HIV counselor, to the charged or convicted person and the victim or the parent or guardian of a minor or incapacitated victim. Prior to such release, the victim or the parent or guardian shall be required to sign a notice of HIV status disclosure advising them of the confidentiality provisions regarding HIV test results and the penalties for unlawful disclosure pursuant to section 325-101.

(e) No person authorized under this paragraph to withdraw blood or assist in the performance of the HIV test, or any medical facility where the blood is drawn or tested that has been ordered by the court to withdraw or test blood, shall be liable in any civil or criminal action if the test is performed in a reasonable manner according to generally accepted medical practices.

(f) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Charged person" means a person who has been charged with an offense under section 707-730, 707-731, 707-732(1)(a), 707-733.6, or 707-741, including a juvenile charged of such an offense. A person is charged when a formal complaint, information, or indictment has been accepted by the court.

"Convicted person" means a person who has been convicted of an offense under section 707-730, 707-731, 707-732(1)(a), 707-733.6, or 707-741, including a juvenile adjudicated of such an offense. A person is convicted when a verdict or adjudication has been rendered by a judge or jury, or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere has been accepted by the court.

"HIV counseling" means HIV counseling which conforms to the guidelines of the department of health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and includes referral for appropriate health care and support services.

"HIV counselor" means any person who has been trained and certified in HIV counseling by the department of health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and who is not a victim counselor employed by or a volunteer with any law enforcement agency.

HRS § 325-16.5

L 1998, c 238, §2; am L 2002, c 238, §3; am L 2006, c 60, §3; am L 2009, c 116, §3 .

Law Journals and Reviews

Reconsidering Hawaii's HIV Statute: The Need to Protect an Individual's Basic Liberties. 28 UH L. Rev. 169.