SB 25-304

Senate Bill 25-304, which has been signed into law in Colorado, aims to address the backlog of untested sexual assault kits. It establishes a review board that will oversee and improve procedures related to handling these cases, ensuring better support for victims by requiring regular updates on forensic evidence analysis. The bill also mandates crime labs to analyze DNA samples within 60 days of receiving them and requires law enforcement to inform victims every 90 days if their test results are not available. This legislation will benefit survivors of sexual assault by enhancing transparency and efficiency in the justice system, with initial funding allocated for its implementation starting in fiscal year 2025-2026.

Official Summary

The act creates the Colorado sexual assault forensic medical evidence review board (board), consisting of the attorney general, or their designee, as board chair; the executive director of the Colorado district attorneys' council, or their designee; and various members appointed by the attorney general or the governor. The board's duties include reviewing and monitoring processes related to sexual assault response, making recommendations to improve sexual assault response, and submitting an annual report concerning its duties. The act creates a notification requirement under the "Victim Rights Act" that requires a law enforcement agency to notify a victim every 90 days when the law enforcement agency has not received the results of the forensic medical evidence DNA analysis from an accredited crime laboratory. The act requires an accredited crime laboratory to endeavor to analyze forensic medical evidence within 60 days after its receipt. The act expands public reporting requirements concerning forensic medical evidence and DNA evidence backlogs. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $112,365 from the general fund to the department of law for use by the administration division to implement the act. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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