NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Channel 4 I-team investigation may lead to better justice for women who have been raped.

Video: Bill Introduced To Stop Charging Rape Victims For Exams

The investigation about rape victims being billed for exams has brought about a bill to change the way victims are treated at the hospital.

The potential law began its journey toward passage Tuesday.

When police collect evidence at a crime scene, rape is the only one that victims get the bill for evidence collection.

Rape victim Kelli Burton said she really doesn't want to talk about what happened to her, but after getting billed for a police exam, she said she felt like she had no choice.

Nashville lawmaker Sherry Jones is sponsoring a bill that would make it mandatory that the state pay for police rape exams.

She said lawmakers usually respond within 30 seconds of her pitch.

The rape kit itself costs less than a dollar, but physician fees and lab fees can push it up to $1,000.

A victim who said she doesn't want to embarrass her teenage children said, “I was asked for my insurance card immediately upon admission to Williamson Medical Center, even though I was escorted by police and delivered by ambulance. This led to my being billed for both physician services, medical center services and lab expenses. It was despicable and insensitive.”

She said she refused to pay but that it wasn't easy.

"It made a horrible experience last 12 months longer than it should have,” she said.

The federal government said that if Tennessee doesn't fix the problem, it will stop paying $2.5 million in sexual crime grant money.

So, whatever it is going to cost the state to pay for exams, it’s already covered.

“Even more important, this is the right thing to do. … The right thing to do for sexual assault victims,” Jones said.

The bill will make its way Wednesday and Thursday in the first two committees.

So far, there has been no opposition.