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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reporting of unanalyzed evidence of sexual assault or |
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other sex offenses by law enforcement agencies and public |
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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 420.045, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 420.045. REPORT OF UNANALYZED EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL |
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ASSAULT OR OTHER SEX OFFENSE. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Backlog kit" means an evidence collection kit |
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that has been in the possession of a public accredited crime |
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laboratory for more than 90 days. |
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(2) "Unsubmitted kit" means an evidence collection kit |
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in a law enforcement agency's possession that has not yet been |
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submitted to a public accredited crime laboratory. |
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(b) Each law enforcement agency [and public accredited |
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crime laboratory] shall submit a quarterly report to the department |
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identifying the number of unsubmitted kits in the law enforcement |
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agency's possession. |
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(c) Each public accredited crime laboratory shall submit a |
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quarterly report to the department identifying the number of |
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evidence collection kits [that the law enforcement agency has not |
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yet submitted for laboratory analysis or] for which the crime |
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laboratory has not yet completed an analysis, including the number |
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of those evidence collection kits that are backlog kits [as |
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applicable]. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |