ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 908
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 16, 2024
The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably
Assembly Bill No. 908.
This bill requires the Attorney General to establish a sexual assault
forensic evidence (SAFE) kit, commonly referred to as a rape kit,
tracking system. Under the bill, the Attorney General is to issue
guidelines or a directive establishing the system.
The bill defines a “sexual assault forensic evidence kit tracking
system” as an Internet-based system that allows a person, including a
victim; a State, county, or municipal law enforcement officer; an
employee of a healthcare facility or laboratory, as deemed appropriate
by the Attorney General; and any other person, as deemed appropriate
by the Attorney General, to track a sexual assault forensic evidence kit
through the chain of custody from the time of collection at a healthcare
facility to the transfer to a local law enforcement agency, submission
to a laboratory, and final disposition.
As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 908 is identical
to Senate Bill No. 715, which was also reported by the committee on
this date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds the bill establishes
in law a State-wide sexual assault forensic evidence kit tracking
system, and notes that a kit tracking system is currently being
implemented pursuant to Attorney General Law Enforcement
Directive No. 2023-1 and funded through a federal grant.
The OLS estimates that there will be indeterminate annual costs
following the implementation of the kit tracking system. The funding
sources for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the tracking
system are also indeterminate.