The House convened at 11 a.m. to Friday to pass six bills, one of which ensures efficient handling of sexual assault forensic kits.
House Bill 4476 aims to provide timely handling of these forensic kits. This provides for better communication between the law enforcement agency, victims of the crime and the state forensic laboratory.
Under the bill, kits must be submitted for testing within 30 days of collection. Kits are to be tested unless the victim recants their statement, or the statement is invalid. Kits must be transmitted back to the local law enforcement agency it came from after testing. Additionally, the state lab must receive approval from the circuit courts and the victim must be notified before disposing of the kits after testing.
By December 1, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Resources must develop a strategic plan to create a tracking system for victims, so they will be aware of the status of their case and will be alerted when it is complete.
This is an attempt to prevent a backlog of untested sexual assault kits in the state from happening again. There is a current backlog of cases as old as 40 years. The Marshall University forensics department is testing cases prior to 2015, and the state lab is working on cases from 2019 and later.
House Bills 3049, 4484, 4600 and 4601 were advanced to third reading. Action for House Bills 4356 and 4434 was postponed for one day.
House Bills 2164, 2892, 4001, 4102, 4137 and 4412 were advanced to second reading.
Three resolutions were introduced. House Bills 4621-4644 were introduced.
The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday.
