Committee adopts amendment to extend deadlines, authorize multi-year grants and clarifies use of existing evidence‑kit fund

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday adopted amendments to House Bill 675 that change deadlines for entering a backlog of sexual‑assault evidence kits, expand grant terms to 36 months and clarify allowable recipients of the grants.

Committee members said the amendments were negotiated with stakeholders and make technical and substantive changes. The adopted amendment moves the statutory deadline to enter backlog data to March 2026 and authorizes multi‑year (36‑month) grants for law enforcement, the Office of the Attorney General and MCASA (Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault). The amendment also clarifies the fund’s allowable uses.

Funding and intent: A committee exchange clarified that the money referenced in the bill — the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Testing Fund — is already appropriated in the state budget. Committee discussion cited an existing annual appropriation of $3,500,000 to that fund and stressed that the amendment is intended to ensure funds can be used for backlog testing and related advocacy work even if federal funds are delayed.

Committee procedure: The committee adopted the amendment after stakeholders and subcommittee chairs negotiated language described in committee as clarifying and technical. Members then moved and seconded a favorable report; the committee voted to report the bill favorably as amended.

What the amendment changes: Key changes described in committee include (1) extending the deadline for law enforcement to enter backlog tests to March 2026; (2) permitting grants to be multi‑year (36 months) to accommodate investigative and testing needs; and (3) clarifying that grants may apply to the Office of the Attorney General, MCASA and law enforcement agencies.

Next steps: The committee reported the bill favorably as amended; the bill will proceed to the next stage of House consideration.