Rape kits.

Existing law requires the establishment of protocols for the examination and treatment of sexual assault victims, including the collection and preservation of evidence. Existing law provides that a law enforcement agency assigned to investigate certain sexual assault offenses should perform DNA testing of rape kit evidence in a timely manner. This bill would require rape kits collected on or after January 1, 2011, in criminal investigations be processed and analyzed for identification purposes within 30 days of delivery to law enforcement. The bill would also require that all rape kits collected prior to January 1, 2011, in criminal investigations be processed and analyzed for identification purposes not later than June 30, 2011. By imposing additional duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions provide a procedure for paying this reimbursement. This bill would appropriate an unspecified sum to the Controller annually to reimburse local agencies and school districts for costs mandated by the state and incurred by them pursuant to this act.