Bill > S05225

This bill amends the New York public health law to improve the tracking and handling of sexual offense evidence collection kits. The legislation introduces new requirements for hospitals, law enforcement, and other agencies involved in processing sexual assault evidence. Specifically, when a sexual assault survivor gives permission to release their evidence collection kit to law enforcement, the law enforcement agency must retrieve the evidence within seven days and report it in a statewide electronic tracking system. The bill also defines two types of evidence collection kits: "reported" (where the survivor consents to reporting the assault to law enforcement) and "unreported" (controlled by the office of victim services). The statewide electronic tracking system will allow survivors to anonymously track the status of their evidence kit, with the goal of increasing transparency and accountability in the handling of sexual assault evidence. Hospitals must now record the collection of reported evidence kits in the electronic tracking system and notify law enforcement within 48 hours, and law enforcement must retrieve such kits from hospitals within seven days. The system is designed to maintain confidentiality while providing survivors with more information about their evidence kit's location and status.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5225