The bill establishes a Statewide sexual assault forensic evidence kit tracking system, which will be overseen by the Attorney General of New Jersey. This system is designed to be Internet-based, allowing various stakeholders—including victims, law enforcement officers, and healthcare facility employees—to track the progress of sexual assault forensic evidence kits throughout the entire chain of custody. This includes tracking from the initial collection at a healthcare facility, through transfer to law enforcement, submission for laboratory processing, and final disposition.
The Attorney General is tasked with issuing guidelines or directives to implement this tracking system effectively. The bill is set to take effect on the first day of the seventh month following its enactment, although the Attorney General is permitted to take necessary administrative actions in advance to ensure the system is operational.