87R10182 MEW-D
By: Neave H.B. No. 3288
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reporting of unanalyzed evidence of sexual assault or
other sex offenses by law enforcement agencies and public
accredited crime laboratories.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 420.045, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 420.045. REPORT OF UNANALYZED EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT OR OTHER SEX OFFENSE. (a) In this section:
(1) "Backlog kit" means an evidence collection kit
that has been in the possession of a public accredited crime
laboratory for more than 90 days.
(2) "Unsubmitted kit" means an evidence collection kit
in a law enforcement agency's possession that has not yet been
submitted to a public accredited crime laboratory.
(b) Each law enforcement agency [and public accredited
crime laboratory] shall submit a quarterly report to the department
identifying the number of unsubmitted kits in the law enforcement
agency's possession.
(c) Each public accredited crime laboratory shall submit a
quarterly report to the department identifying the number of
evidence collection kits [that the law enforcement agency has not
yet submitted for laboratory analysis or] for which the crime
laboratory has not yet completed an analysis, including the number
of those evidence collection kits that are backlog kits [as
applicable].
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.