The Louisiana legislature on Tuesday banned the practice of charging sexual-assault victims for rape kits, 10 years after the federal government required the change. A companion proposal will compensate hospitals for the kits with unclaimed gambling winnings. Though the practice of billing victims for assault kits was banned under the Violence Against Women Act, Louisiana was notorious for billing the survivors, particularly if they chose not to pursue charges. Both bills are expected to be signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
