This bill amends Section 150.28b of the Oklahoma Statutes to enhance the procedures surrounding the collection and testing of sexual assault evidence kits. It mandates that all accredited crime laboratories in Oklahoma provide standardized sexual assault evidence kits to law enforcement agencies. The bill reduces the time frame for submitting these kits for forensic testing from twenty days to ten days after a report of sexual assault is made, unless the victim requests otherwise. Additionally, it establishes that if a victim initially declines testing, they can request it at a later time, and the law enforcement agency must submit the kit for testing within ten days of that request.

Furthermore, the bill requires that any sexual assault evidence kit collected on or after the effective date of the act be processed by the appropriate accredited crime laboratory within thirty days of receipt. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing testing for kits that are likely to provide evidentiary value. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is also given the authority to inquire about the status of any kits that have not been submitted for testing within the specified deadlines. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 74-150.28b