Bill > HB58

This bill modifies the Rape Kit Collection, Testing, and Tracking Grant Fund to expand its scope and purpose. The bill broadens the fund's potential uses beyond just testing sexual assault evidence collection kits to include equipment, supplies, personnel, and outsourcing for kit testing. It allows the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to use up to 5% of the fund for administrative purposes and provides additional grant opportunities, including funding for law enforcement agencies to increase laboratory testing capacity, supporting kit reporting efforts, hiring forensic nurse examiners (RN-FNEs) in hospitals, and providing training resources for RN-FNEs. The bill clarifies that the fund is a special, non-lapsing account that can receive state budget appropriations, interest earnings, and other funding sources. The Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy will continue to administer the fund, establish distribution procedures, ensure jurisdiction access, and consider the number of sexual assault incidents when allocating funds. The bill also requires an annual report to the General Assembly and specifies that the fund is supplemental to existing sexual assault evidence kit testing funding. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2025, with the goal of improving sexual assault evidence collection, testing, and tracking processes across Maryland.

Justice

Judiciary (House)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0058?ys=2025RS