sexually transmitted
diseases; exposure; testing
SB 1048 extends the testing privileges on persons who transferred blood or other bodily fluids onto a law enforcement officer, correctional service officer, detention officer, private prison security officer or fire fighter (officers) to include deceased persons and adds five sexually transmitted diseases to the list for testing.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, each year approximately 12-15 incidents occur where blood or other bodily fluids are potentially transferred to Phoenix Police Officers. SB 1048 is in response to a specific incidence where an officer had possibly been exposed to the transfer of blood or other bodily fluid by a suspect who later died. The family of the suspect refused to allow testing of the deceased. Under current law such testing is prohibited without consent and does not allow for the screening of sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV. SB 1048 allows the medical examiners to withdraw samples from a deceased person upon court order and expands the list of sexually transmitted diseases for which are tested.