Senate adopts amendments adjusting sexual assault kit storage requirements

The Senate adopted an amendment that provides accommodations for police departments with limited available storage.

HB 2318, as amended, retains the requirement that police departments store unreported sexual assault kits (SAKs). However, the legislation allows for a police department to designate an alternate department or government agency to store found property that is not part of a criminal investigation.

With this change, departments with storage capacity concerns may prioritize storage space for:

• SAKs;
• Evidence; and
• Potential evidence in criminal investigations.

Law enforcement is still required to accept found property. However, law enforcement is not required to store the found property with limited exceptions.

HB 2318 now returns to the House for concurrence with the amendment. When the House agrees, the bill heads to the Governor for signature.