Sexual assault forensic examination kits: databases.

Existing law makes the Department of Justice, through its DNA Laboratory, responsible for the management and administration of the state's DNA and Forensic Identification Database and Data Bank Program. Existing law requires a law enforcement agency that has investigated a case involving the collection of sexual assault kit evidence, within 120 days of collection, to create an information profile for the kit on the Department of Justice's Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Tracking (SAFE-T) database and report specified information, including if biological samples from the kit were submitted to a DNA laboratory for analysis. This bill would require a law enforcement agency that has investigated a case involving the collection of sexual assault kit evidence to create an information profile for the kit only if one does not currently exist. The bill would require each city, county, city and county, or state laboratory that participates in the California Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) , upon notification by the department that a CODIS hit has occurred for forensic evidence collected from a sexual assault kit, to enter into the CODIS Hit Outcome Project (CHOP) database the information required by the department and to report to the department, as required by the department, the status and outcome of those investigative leads. By expanding the duties of local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the department to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing data on sexual assault kits. The bill would additionally require the department to create a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system that, among other things, allows victims of sexual assault to track or receive updates regarding the status and location of their sexual assault kits. The bill would require the department to submit, on or before July 1, 2021, a report on the current status and plan for launching the system to the Legislature. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.