Politics & Government

Legislative Upate: Rape Kit Bill Heads to Governor

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino's (D-La Cañada) bill could help law enforcement catch sexual offenders.

The Senate, on a vote of 37 to 2, has approved Assemblyman Anthony Portantino's (D-La Cañada Flintridge) legislative measure aimed at putting more rapists behind bars.

The Senate voted Tuesday, but the bill came back to the Assembly Wednesday for approval of minor changes, and was overwhelmingly approved, said POrtantino's spokeswoman Wendy Gordon. Next stop: Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.

AB 322 would set time limits for crime labs to process rape kits that are used to present physical evidence in the prosecution of sexual assault offenders. Under Portantino's bill, law enforcement agencies would be required to report to the Department of Justice the number of rape kits they collect, the number that are the result of stranger-rape and the number of kits tested beginning when the law goes into effect.

Find out what's happening in La Cañada Flintridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s unconscionable that thousands of rape kits remain unopened and untested across California. Rape kits hold vital evidence that is crucial to a criminal conviction,'' Portantino said in a prepared statement.

"While the clock is ticking on the statute of limitation for these crimes, a rapist could be walking free and a victim is further traumatized because a vital piece of evidence went untested,'' he continued. 

Find out what's happening in La Cañada Flintridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

All bills have to be out of the Legislature by 11:59 p.m. Friday.


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