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Bill > SB1571

OR SB1571

OR SB1571
Relating to sexual assault forensic evidence kits; and declaring an emergency.

summary

Introduced
02/01/2016
In Committee
02/29/2016
Crossed Over
02/26/2016
Passed
03/02/2016
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
03/30/2016

Introduced Session

2016 Legislative Measures

Bill Summary

Directs Department of State Police to adopt rules concerning prioritization of testing untested sexual assault forensic evidence kits. Requires department to test all nonanonymous untested kits in accordance with rules. Directs department to report to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to judiciary concerning untested kits no later than January 15 of each year. Directs law enforcement agencies to adopt written and publicly available policies and procedures no later than January 1, 2017, concerning collection, testing, retention and destruction of sexual assault forensic evidence kits and concerning contact with and provision of information to victims. Specifies certain contents of policies and procedures. Requires medical facility collecting sexual assault forensic evidence kits to notify law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over possible investigation that kit has been collected within seven days after collection. Establishes Task Force on the Testing of Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Kits. Directs task force to examine testing process within state, law enforcement training on sexual assault investigations, victim rights and access to evidence and possible testing of anonymous kits, and to identify grants and other funding sources. Directs task force to report to interim committee of Legislative Assembly related to judiciary by December 1, 2018. Sunsets task force on June 30, 2019. Increases biennial appropriation made from General Fund to Department of State Police for purposes of testing sexual assault forensic evidence kits. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

AI Summary

This bill, known as "Melissa's Law," aims to improve the handling and testing of sexual assault forensic evidence kits, which are collections of evidence gathered during a medical examination after a sexual assault. It mandates that the Department of State Police create rules to prioritize testing these kits, ensuring that all non-anonymous kits (those collected from victims who are participating or may participate in a prosecution) are tested, while anonymous kits (from victims who have not decided or have chosen not to participate in prosecution) are not tested. The department must also report annually on its progress with untested kits and ensure DNA results are entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national database for DNA profiles. Law enforcement agencies are required to establish clear, publicly available policies for collecting, testing, retaining, and destroying these kits, as well as for communicating with victims, by January 1, 2017. Medical facilities that collect these kits must notify the relevant law enforcement agency within seven days of collection. Additionally, a Task Force on the Testing of Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Kits is established to examine the testing process, law enforcement training, victim rights, and funding opportunities, with a mandate to report its findings and recommendations by December 1, 2018, before sunsetting on June 30, 2019. The bill also increases funding for the Department of State Police to enhance their capacity for processing these kits and declares an emergency, allowing the act to take effect immediately upon passage.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Justice

Sponsors (43)

Jeff Barker (D)*,  Knute Buehler (R)*,  Michael Dembrow (D)*,  Richard Devlin (D)*,  Joe Gallegos (D)*,  Sara Gelser Blouin (D)*,  David Gomberg (D)*,  Mark Hass (D)*,  John Huffman (R)*,  Alissa Keny-Guyer (D)*,  Tim Knopp (R)*,  Wayne Krieger (R)*,  Ann Lininger (D)*,  Laurie Monnes Anderson (D)*,  Mike Nearman (R)*,  Alan Olsen (R)*,  Andy Olson (R)*,  Julie Parrish (R)*,  Carla Piluso (D)*,  Floyd Prozanski (D)*,  Dan Rayfield (D)*,  Tobias Read (D)*,  Chuck Riley (D)*,  Arnie Roblan (D)*,  Diane Rosenbaum (D)*,  Chip Shields (D)*,  Sherrie Sprenger (R)*,  Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D)*,  Kathleen Taylor (D)*,  Kim Thatcher (R)*,  Chuck Thomsen (R)*,  Jennifer Williamson (D)*,  Alan Bates (D),  Ginny Burdick (D),  Brian Clem (D),  Peter Courtney (D),  Val Hoyle (D),  Betsy Johnson (I),  Mike McLane (R),  Jessica Vega Pederson (D),  Jim Weidner (R),  Gene Whisnant (R),  Carl Wilson (R), 

Last Action

Effective date, March 29, 2016. (on 03/30/2016)

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