Bill > HB2705

This bill establishes new rights and procedures for sexual assault victims regarding forensic evidence tracking. Specifically, the bill requires law enforcement agencies to inform sexual assault victims about the status of their forensic evidence upon request, which can be written or verbal at the agency's discretion. Victims have the right to be informed about three key aspects of their evidence: whether a DNA profile was obtained, whether that DNA profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Database, and whether a match was found in the CODIS Database. The law aims to encourage law enforcement to proactively notify victims about evidence information while maintaining flexibility for ongoing criminal investigations. Importantly, the law does not mandate that law enforcement communicate with victims unless specifically requested, and it includes a provision preventing disclosure of information that could compromise an active investigation. The bill will become effective on November 1, 2025, and will be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 142C-6 of Title 21.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb2705&Session=2600