S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3557
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 1, 2023
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Introduced by Sens. SANDERS, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to reports on untested
sexual offense evidence collection kits
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 837-w of the executive law, as added by chapter 219
of the laws of 2022, is renumbered section 837-x and a new section 837-y
is added to read as follows:
§ 837-Y. UNTESTED SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KIT REPORTS. 1.
AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING
MEANINGS:
(A) "FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION" SHALL MEAN AN EXAMINATION PROVIDED
TO THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL OFFENSE BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR THE
PURPOSE OF GATHERING AND PRESERVING EVIDENCE OF A SEXUAL OFFENSE FOR USE
IN A COURT OF LAW;
(B) "SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KIT" SHALL MEAN A HUMAN
BIOLOGICAL SPECIMEN OR SPECIMENS COLLECTED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
DURING A FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION FROM THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL
OFFENSE; AND
(C) "UNTESTED SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KIT" SHALL MEAN A
SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KIT THAT HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED TO
THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE LABORATORY OR A SIMILAR QUALIFIED LABORATORY
FOR EITHER A SEROLOGY OR DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA) TEST.
2. BY JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, AND EVERY FIRST OF JULY
THEREAFTER, ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TAKING AND
PROCESSING OF SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KITS SHALL CONDUCT AN
INVENTORY OF ALL SUCH KITS BEING STORED BY THE AGENCY AND REPORT ALL OF
THE FOLLOWING TO THE DIVISION:
(A) THE NUMBER OF SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KITS THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY COLLECTS;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00422-01-3
S. 3557 2
(B) THE NUMBER OF SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KITS THAT ARE
TESTED; AND
(C) THE NUMBER OF UNTESTED SEXUAL OFFENSE EVIDENCE COLLECTION KITS AND
THE REASON SUCH KITS REMAIN UNTESTED.
3. BY THE FIRST OF JANUARY, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, AND EVERY FIRST
OF JANUARY THEREAFTER, THE DIVISION SHALL PREPARE AND TRANSMIT A REPORT
TO THE APPROPRIATE POLICY COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATURE SUMMARIZING THE
INFORMATION THE DIVISION RECEIVES PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.