Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:535 – Blood and saliva testing; AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; victim’s testing and services
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:535
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
A. When a sexual offender is convicted, the court shall order and direct the offender to submit to a blood and saliva test, to be made by qualified physicians or other qualified persons, under such restrictions and direction as the court deems proper.
B. The test must include chemical testing of his blood to determine its genetic markers and of his saliva to determine its secretor status. The court shall order that the results of the test be submitted to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information.
C.(1) The court shall also order the person convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent for a sexual offense as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 14:42 through 43.3 to submit to a test designed to determine whether the person is infected with a sexually transmitted disease, or is infected with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), HIV-1 antibodies, or any other probable causative agent of AIDS. The procedure or test shall be performed by a qualified physician or other qualified person who shall report any positive result to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, make the notification of the test results to the victim of the alleged offense, and notify the victim or the parent or custodian of the victim of the offense, regardless of the results.
(2)(a) At the request of the victim, the court shall order the person against whom a bill of information or indictment for a sexual offense as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 14:42 through 43.3 to submit, not later than forty-eight hours after the date on which such bill of information or indictment is presented, to a test designed to determine whether the person is infected with a sexually transmitted disease or is infected with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), HIV-1 antibodies, or any other probable causative agent of AIDS.
(b) The victim may request that the person against whom a bill of information or indictment for a sexual offense as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 14:42 through 43.3 to submit to a follow-up test to determine whether the person is infected with a sexually transmitted disease or is infected with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), HIV-1 antibodies, or any other probable causative agent of AIDS. Upon a finding that the follow-up test is medically appropriate, the court shall order that such person submit to the test.
(c) Any test, pursuant to this Paragraph, shall be performed by a qualified physician or other qualified person. Test results shall be disclosed to the victim and to the person against whom a bill of information or indictment for a sexual offense as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 14:42 through 43.3. If the victim consents, the test results shall be disclosed to anyone authorized by the victim. The test results shall not be disclosed to the court.
D. If the offender tested under the provisions of Subsection C of this Section tests positive for AIDS, HIV, HIV-1 antibodies, or any other probable causative agent of AIDS, the victim shall be provided with HIV testing, if such testing is requested by the victim, or in the case of a minor, by the victim’s parent or legal custodian, at a state hospital or other facility as determined by the Louisiana Department of Health or as provided by law. If the victim tested under the provisions of this Subsection tests positive for AIDS, HIV, HIV-1 antibodies, or any other probable causative agent of AIDS, the victim shall, upon request, be provided with all of the following services:
(1) Counseling regarding HIV disease.
(2) Referral to appropriate health care and support services. These services shall be provided in accordance with applicable state law and the regulations governing the specific programs under which the services are to be provided.
Acts 1989, No. 194, §2; Acts 1991, No. 419, §1; Acts 1993, No. 904, §1; Acts 2008, No. 678, §1.