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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the submission of evidence of sexual assault and other |
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sex offenses for analysis by public accredited crime laboratories. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 420.042, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: |
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(g) A law enforcement agency that fails to submit evidence |
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of a sexual assault or other sex offense to a public accredited |
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crime laboratory within the period required by this section shall |
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provide to the department written documentation of the failure, |
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including a detailed explanation for the failure. The agency shall |
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submit the documentation required by this subsection on or before |
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the 30th day after the date on which the agency discovers that the |
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evidence was not submitted within the period required by this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 420.042(g), Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies to evidence of a sexual assault or other sex |
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offense in possession of a law enforcement agency on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |