This bill will improve oversight, transparency, and timeliness in the processing of sexual assault evidence kits (SAKs) in Colorado, and to strengthen victim communication under the Victim Rights Act.
Key Provisions:
Independent Sexual Assault Kit Coordinator
Creates a grant-funded position for an independent coordinator.
Administered by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Responsibilities include: compiling and submitting annual reports to the General Assembly that address the state’s capacity and performance in testing sexual assault kits.
Victim Notification Requirement (Victim Rights Act Amendment)
Law enforcement must notify victims every 90 days if the DNA results from their sexual assault kit have not yet been received from the crime lab.
Aims to ensure victims remain informed and updated throughout the process.
Crime Lab Processing Goal
Requires accredited crime laboratories to endeavor (make a good faith effort) to complete testing within 60 days of receiving a kit.
Not a strict deadline but sets a standard for timely analysis.
Expanded Reporting to Legislature
Current reporting on SAK testing is increased to twice per year.
Reports must now include average time between receipt and completion of SAK testing and broader access – reports sent to all members of the General Assembly.
Overall Effect
Enhances accountability and transparency in how sexual assault evidence is handled.
Supports survivors’ rights by keeping them informed.
Promotes faster processing and statewide oversight of forensic testing capacity.
Summary
The bill creates a grant program to fund an independent sexual
assault kit coordinator (coordinator) position. The coordinator is tasked with providing annual reports to the general assembly regarding specific criteria relating to the state's capacity to complete sexual assault kit tests. The Colorado bureau of investigation administers the grant program. The bill creates a notification requirement under the Victim
Rights Act that requires a law enforcement agency to notify a victim at least once every 90 days if the law enforcement agency has not received the results of the forensic medical evidence DNA analysis from an accredited crime laboratory.
The bill requires an accredited crime laboratory to endeavor to
analyze forensic medical evidence within 60 days after its receipt.
The bill expands existing reporting requirements concerning
forensic medical evidence in sexual assault cases so that each member of the general assembly receives a report twice each year and the report includes information concerning the average amount of time between receipt and completed analysis of sexual assault evidence collection kits.
