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Utah House passes bill requiring testing, tracking of most sexual assault kits
Summary
The House passed HB200 unanimously after sponsor Representative Romero said the measure requires submission and DNA testing of most assault kits, establishes retention timelines and a statewide tracking system to address a backlog estimated at about 2,700 kits statewide.
The Utah House passed HB200 on Feb. 17, 2017, a bill that the sponsor said requires most sexual assault kits to be submitted to the state crime lab for DNA testing, establishes retention and disposal timelines, and creates a statewide kit tracking system. Sponsor Representative Romero said the measure is intended to address a backlog of kits and to provide victims transparency over the status of testing.
Sponsor’s case and data: "HB 200 ... requires all assault kits except restricted kits be submitted to the crime lab and tested to obtain DNA," Romero said during floor remarks, describing four elements of the bill: mandatory testing for non-restricted kits, retention and disposal timelines, a statewide tracking system, and increased training for first responders and investigators. Romero told colleagues the state inventory is "about 2,700 kits across the state of Utah," with roughly 1,750 inventoried in Salt Lake County and about 814 of those already tested.
Why it matters: Supporters framed HB200 as a public-safety and victims’ rights measure that will produce investigative leads and help identify serial offenders. The sponsor said federal grants are addressing some backlog issues but that this bill focuses on current kits (from about February 2015 forward) and establishes systems to prevent future evidence loss. Representative Winder called the situation a "statewide emergency" and urged state intervention.
Floor action and next steps: After debate and members’ questions about backlog size and resources, the House voted to pass HB200 by voice and recorded vote, 69 yes, 0 no. The bill was transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
Quotes and attributions: Representative Romero, the bill sponsor, said: "It prevents an innocent person from being convicted of a crime that they did not commit" and that the bill "provides the victims the opportunity to pursue charges at a later date." Representative Romero also provided the inventory estimate: "estimates are there about 2,700 kits across the state of Utah." Representative Winder urged passage, calling the backlog a statewide emergency.
What the bill does not do here: The House debate focused on establishing tracking and testing requirements; the bill’s final details, implementation plan, and any fiscal impacts were to be handled in subsequent agency rulemaking and appropriation processes. The House transmitted the bill to the Senate after passage.
