Act 70 of 2022 will issue recommendations to implement a rape kit tracking system in the Commonwealth. This act authorized the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape to conduct a study to examine the resources required.
 
Accordingly, I intend to introduce legislation furthering those purposes. Specifically, this legislation will establish a rape kit tracking system in our Commonwealth. A rape kit tracking system allows individuals to follow the path of a rape kit throughout the chain of custody. Across the country, 30 states and the District of Columbia have already established rape kit tracking systems. This legislation will allow our Commonwealth to receive federal funds.
 
In 2018, I was proud to sponsor Act 164 which streamlined the process of collecting sexual assault evidence and required biannual reports on data relating to sexual assault. In 2019, I sponsored Act 29, which enacted a comprehensive bill of rights in Pennsylvania for survivors of sexual assault.  This legislation will grow on the work this body has done in previous sessions and assist victims of sexual assault in monitoring the status of their rape kits.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation that puts our Commonwealth in the best position to establish a rape kit tracking system as soon as possible.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1328: P.L.1471, No.165, P.L.6, No.3, P.L.882, No.111
Printer's No. 1512: P.L.1471, No.165, P.L.6, No.3, P.L.882, No.111
Printer's No. 1568: P.L.1471, No.165, P.L.6, No.3, P.L.882, No.111