summary
Introduced
01/09/2018
01/09/2018
In Committee
01/09/2018
01/09/2018
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2020
01/08/2020
Introduced Session
2018-2019 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill, to be known as the "Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act," would require municipal, county, State and federal law enforcement agencies to submit to the appropriate forensic laboratory evidence collected in the investigation of a sexual assault case within 10 business days. The bill requires this evidence, often referred to as a "rape kit," to be analyzed by the lab within six months of when it is received if sufficient staffing and resources are available. Under the bill, law enforcement agencies have 45 days to provide to the Superintendent of State Police, in writing, the number of sexual assault cases in the agency's custody that have not been previously submitted to a laboratory for analysis. The superintendent and the agency then have 180 days to make appropriate arrangements to ensure the submission of this evidence. Within 120 days of the effective date of this act, the superintendent is required to submit to the Governor, Attorney General, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the General Assembly a plan for analyzing these submitted cases. The plan is to include a timeline for completing the analysis of the rape kits and a summary of the inventory received, as well as requests for funding and resources necessary to meet the established timeline. A rape kit submitted for analysis as required under the bill must include a signed certification as follows: "This evidence is being submitted by (name of investigating law enforcement agency) in connection with a prior or current criminal investigation." Guidelines issued by the Attorney General currently govern the handling of rape kits in this State. Under these guidelines, rape kit evidence is held for 90 days within which a victim can decide whether to release the evidence to law enforcement. The victim is informed of the county policy regarding time frames for the storage and possible destruction of evidence.
AI Summary
This bill, to be known as the "Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act," imposes time constraints on the submission and analysis of rape kits (sexual assault evidence) by law enforcement agencies in New Jersey. It requires law enforcement agencies to submit rape kits to the appropriate forensic laboratory within 10 business days of receiving them, and for the labs to analyze the kits within 6 months of receiving them, if they have sufficient staffing and resources. The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to provide the State Police Superintendent with the number of unsubmitted rape kits within 45 days, and then make arrangements to submit those kits within 180 days. The Superintendent must then submit a plan within 120 days to analyze the submitted kits, including a timeline and requests for necessary funding and resources. The bill also specifies that the failure to submit a rape kit within the 10-day timeframe does not affect the authority to submit or analyze the evidence. Finally, the Attorney General is required to develop guidelines for the submission and analysis of sexual assault evidence under this law.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (7)
Nia Gill (D)*,
Nellie Pou (D)*,
Chris Brown (R),
Tom Kean (R),
Steven Oroho (R),
Joe Pennacchio (R),
Brian Stack (D),
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 01/09/2018)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
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BillText | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S0500/425_I1.HTM |
Bill | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S0500/425_I1.PDF |
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