This legislation attempts to address the backlog of sexual assault evidence that can be used to identify rapists, commonly referred to as "rape kits."   The current version of SB 304 requires medical professionals, who collected evidence for rape kits prior to July 1, 2016, to notify law enforcement by July 15, 2016.  Law enforcement must collect the rape kits by July 31, 2016.  The evidence must be submitted tot he GBI by August 31, 2016. 

Law enforcement must also create a list of evidence from these forensic medical examination in their possession on August 1, 2016 and submit it to the GBI by August 15, 2016.  

To prevent a future or continuing backlog, SB 304 requires medical professionals to notify law enforcement when they have conducted a medical examination that produced evidence for a rape kit.  Law enforcement has 96 hours to obtain the rape kit from the medical professional.  Within 30 days of collecting the rape kit, law enforcement must submit it to the GBI Division of Forensic Sciences.  

This legislation creates the Senate Annexation, Deannexation and Incorporation Study Committee. The study committee is to submit its recommendations to the General Assembly prior to the 2016 legislative session.  

To view ACCG's recommendations to the study committee, please click here.