House Bill 257 Summary

• Requires HIV testing within 24 hours of arrest for all persons arrested for sex crimes against minors as defined in Section 97-5-51
• State Department of Health must report positive HIV/AIDS test results to victims (or parents/guardians of minor victims) and the accused within 24 hours, and provide counseling and treatment referrals
• Biological samples collected for HIV/AIDS testing must be destroyed; only test results are retained
• Amends Section 99-49-1 to require preservation of biological evidence from sex crime arrests under the same preservation requirements as evidence from unsolved crimes or cases where the convicted person remains in custody
• Effective July 1, 2015