The Florida Senate

90.5035  Sexual assault counselor-victim privilege.--

(1)  For purposes of this section:

(a)  A "rape crisis center" is any public or private agency that offers assistance to victims of sexual assault or sexual battery and their families.

(b)  A "sexual assault counselor" is any employee of a rape crisis center whose primary purpose is the rendering of advice, counseling, or assistance to victims of sexual assault or sexual battery.

(c)  A "victim" is a person who consults a sexual assault counselor for the purpose of securing advice, counseling, or assistance concerning a mental, physical, or emotional condition caused by a sexual assault or sexual battery, an alleged sexual assault or sexual battery, or an attempted sexual assault or sexual battery.

(d)  A communication between a sexual assault counselor and a victim is "confidential" if it is not intended to be disclosed to third persons other than:

1.  Those persons present to further the interest of the victim in the consultation, examination, or interview.

2.  Those persons necessary for the transmission of the communication.

3.  Those persons to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes for which the sexual assault counselor is consulted.

(2)  A victim has a privilege to refuse to disclose, and to prevent any other person from disclosing, a confidential communication made by the victim to a sexual assault counselor or any record made in the course of advising, counseling, or assisting the victim. Such confidential communication or record may be disclosed only with the prior written consent of the victim. This privilege includes any advice given by the sexual assault counselor in the course of that relationship.

(3)  The privilege may be claimed by:

(a)  The victim or the victim's attorney on his or her behalf.

(b)  A guardian or conservator of the victim.

(c)  The personal representative of a deceased victim.

(d)  The sexual assault counselor, but only on behalf of the victim. The authority of a sexual assault counselor to claim the privilege is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

History.--s. 1, ch. 83-284; s. 476, ch. 95-147.