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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the tracking of evidence of sexual assault and other sex |
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offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 420.035(a), Government Code, as added by |
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Chapter 408 (H.B. 8), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2019, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) If a health care facility or other entity that performs |
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a medical examination to collect evidence of a sexual assault or |
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other sex offense receives signed, written consent to release the |
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evidence as provided by Section 420.0735, the facility or entity |
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shall: |
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(1) promptly notify any law enforcement agency |
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investigating the [alleged] offense; and |
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(2) not later than 24 hours after the examination is |
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performed, enter the identification number of the evidence |
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collection kit into the statewide electronic tracking system under |
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Section 420.034. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to sexual assault evidence and evidence of other sex offenses |
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collected on or after the effective date of this Act. Evidence |
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collected before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect on the date the evidence was collected, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |