HLS 17RS-599 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 26
BY REPRESENTATIVE MORENO
CRIMINAL/VICTIMS: Directs the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab to study and make
recommendations for the implementation of a tracking system relative to the status
of sexual assault collection kits
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To direct the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab to study and make recommendations on the
3 implementation of and protocols for the effective use of a sexual assault collection
4 kit tracking system in Louisiana, and to report its findings to the legislature no later
5 than January 1, 2018.
6 WHEREAS, national studies indicate that approximately one in five women are
7victims of rape in their lifetime and approximately one in twenty women suffer other sexual
8assaults; and
9 WHEREAS, victims often turn to hospitals and local law enforcement agencies for
10help, and because of the sense of urgency in collecting evidence of a sexual assault from a
11victim's body, the victim must undergo examinations and questioning immediately after the
12commission of the assault by healthcare professionals and law enforcement officials who are
13attempting to collect evidence of the crime; and
14 WHEREAS, sexual assault collection kits are designed to assist in the preservation
15of human biological specimen or specimens collected during a forensic medical examination
16from the victim of a sexual assault; and
17 WHEREAS, in 2016, the state of Washington enacted legislation establishing a
18statewide sexual assault kit tracking system; and
19 WHEREAS, Washington's system tracks the location and status of sexual assault kits
20throughout the criminal justice process, allows medical facilities performing sexual assault
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HCR NO. 26
1forensic examinations, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and other entities in custody
2of the kits to update and track the status and location of the kits, allows victims of sexual
3assault to anonymously track or receive updates regarding the status of their kits, and uses
4electronic technology allowing continuous access; and
5 WHEREAS, it is important that sexual assault victims have access to information
6about the status of their sexual assault collection kits; and
7 WHEREAS, a sexual assault collection kit tracking system would provide the state
8with comprehensive information about the amount of kits submitted, the testing status of the
9kits, and testing time frames; and
10 WHEREAS, it is crucial that as the tracking system develops, victim privacy is
11strictly upheld to protect the victim's identity and safety.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
13direct the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab to study and make recommendations on the
14implementation of and protocols for the effective use of a sexual assault collection kit
15tracking system, and to report its findings to the legislature no later than January 1, 2018.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab is directed
17to study and report the costs of implementation and use of a sexual assault collection kit
18tracking system.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab is directed
20to study and report the benefits of using a sexual assault collection kit tracking system and
21to review programs and protocols from other jurisdictions throughout the United States, to
22identify best practices from those jurisdictions that have successfully implemented and used
23a sexual assault collection kit tracking system.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in studying and developing the
25recommendations for the implementation of a sexual assault collection kit tracking system
26in Louisiana, the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab is directed to solicit and obtain input
27from various stakeholders including but not limited to healthcare professionals, law
28enforcement agencies, and prosecutors.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
30to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.
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HCR NO. 26
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 26 Original 2017 Regular Session Moreno
Directs the La. State Police Crime Lab to study and make recommendations regarding the
implementation of and protocols for the effective use of a sexual assault collection kit
tracking system in La., and to report its findings to the legislature no later than Jan. 1, 2018.
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