This bill proposes to amend the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding a new section, 41-1735, which mandates the establishment of a sexual assault kit evidence tracking system by the Department of Public Safety. The system will track the location and status of sexual assault kits from initial collection through to storage, analysis, and destruction. It will require that medical providers, law enforcement agencies, and accredited crime laboratories submit relevant information to the tracking system. Additionally, it will allow various entities involved in the chain of custody to update and track the status of the kits, and it will enable victims to anonymously track their kits and receive updates, including notifications prior to destruction.

The bill also stipulates that records within the tracking system are confidential but can be accessed by the victim and authorized employees of the involved entities for tracking purposes. Definitions for "law enforcement agency" and "public accredited crime laboratory" will align with existing definitions in section 13-1426. Overall, this legislation aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the handling of sexual assault evidence, thereby supporting victims' rights and improving the investigative process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-1735