HB20-1228 Summary

• Division of Criminal Justice must research creation of a statewide tracking system allowing sexual assault victims to access information about their forensic medical evidence location, lab submission status, testing completion, and storage.

• Medical professionals conducting forensic exams must inform victims of nearest sexual assault victim advocate contact information, evidence preservation timeframe, and right to be notified before evidence destruction.

• Entities holding forensic medical evidence must notify victims at least 60 days before destruction and retain evidence for an additional 10 years if victim objects.

• Committee studying tracking system implementation must research evidence collection costs, payment program sufficiency, compliance with federal billing prohibitions, 21-day testing submission timelines, and factors discouraging evidence collection by December 1, 2021.

• Executive director of Department of Public Safety must promulgate rules requiring forensic medical evidence maintenance until statute of limitations on prosecution expires; $44,200 appropriated to Division of Criminal Justice for implementation.