Texas Charges Victims for Rape Kits

Via Think Progress, this is absolutely disgusting and obscene. CNN reports that rape victims in Texas are being charged for their own rape kits, to the tune of well over $1,000 no less:
Embedded video from CNN Video
A Houston paper reports:
Attorney Generals spokesman Jerry Strickland said the crime victim fund is enforcing strict guidelines imposed by the legislature as to which bills are paid and which victims are sent a denial notice.
Otherwise, he said that fund could become insolvent.
He said state law is clear that crime victims must exhaust all other potential funding sources, such as local police or their own health insurance.
The legislature set it up that way, said Strickland.
When asked for a number of how many denial letters had been sent out to Texas rape victims in the past, Strickland did not have an answer after checking with his crime victims compensation office workers.
Emphasis mine.
Yes, the law is apparently set up so that its a rape victims responsibility to figure out how to pay for her own rape kit. Not the states. And this is despite the fact that millions and millions of dollars sit untouched in the fund.
I know what its like to be raped. But I cant even begin to imagine what its like to be raped and then charged a ridiculous sum of money as a direct result. I cant imagine what its like to be raped and then be billed for it several months later. It absolutely churns my stomach, though.
The victim featured in this case has had her bills dropped by the hospital as a result of the media attention. But how many women have not gone to the media and just paid? How many didnt go the media and had their credit ruined because they couldnt pay? And how many will fall into both categories after this point?
Further, we know that this is a problem that goes beyond Texas. Numerous states reportedly charge victims, despite the fact that it violates conditions of receiving grants under VAWA. And the real rub is that governments largely get their power to charge rape victims without attention due to the rape culture that breeds shame and stigma, and therefore keeps victims quiet.