House sponsor objects to Senate changes to statewide sexual assault kit tracking bill

Representative Bliss told caucus she refused the Senate amendment to House Bill 2581, characterizing it as "hostile" because it exempts the city of Phoenix from participating in a statewide sexual assault kit (SAK) tracking system. The original House language would require a statewide system allowing victims to anonymously track the life cycle of SAKs, including collection, storage, analysis and destruction.

"I refuse the senate amendment. It's hostile. It guts the purpose of the bill," Representative Bliss said. She said the bill is intended to give victims across Arizona the same ability to track kits, and expressed frustration that the state's largest city would be excluded by the amendment.

Caucus discussion confirmed the Senate amendment added a carve-out exempting Phoenix from the tracking requirement. Staff said the Senate amendment also added tracking of SAK evidence from death investigations and explicitly exempted Phoenix from participation.

Other members voiced support for Bliss's original language. One member noted existing programs that allow tracking and urged staff to restore the House-engrossed version. Bliss asked that two representatives be named as conferees to pursue a conference committee to readopt the House version.

Bliss and supporters said stakeholders have argued the amendment was added because Phoenix officials said entering data into two systems would add work; Bliss said the state-system requirement does not prevent Phoenix from continuing to use its own internal system but would require it to participate in a system that communicates statewide.

No final vote was recorded in caucus; Representative Bliss said she intends to pursue conferees and further action to restore the House language.