Senate Memorial 17 requests the Secretary of Public Safety and the Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs to convene a task force aimed at studying the current state of sexual assault examination kits in New Mexico. This initiative is prompted by alarming statistics from the 2024 New Mexico Crime Victimization Report, which indicates that a significant portion of the population has experienced sexual assault, with many victims being very young at the time of their first incident. The task force will focus on addressing the backlog of sexual assault examination kits and ensuring that no future backlog occurs, while also providing survivors with information regarding the status of their kits.

The task force will consist of various stakeholders, including representatives from public safety, legal, and healthcare sectors, as well as directors from rape crisis centers and forensic laboratories. Co-chaired by the Secretary of Public Safety and the Executive Director of the Coalition, the task force is set to begin meetings in July 2026. It will report its findings and recommendations to relevant legislative committees, covering topics such as progress in processing kits, adequacy of survivor services, challenges faced, and potential legislative solutions. Copies of the memorial will be sent to key officials involved in the implementation of these measures.