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Committee hears bill to create sexual‑assault protective order and extend evidence‑kit protections
Summary
Lawmakers and witnesses told the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that House Bill 16-51 would let sexual‑assault survivors seek civil protective orders like domestic‑violence victims and extend forensic kit retention and tracking; medical and advocacy witnesses praised the tracking system, while some questioned costs and implementation details.
A legislative committee on July 6 heard testimony on House Bill 16‑51, which would create a civil protective order for survivors of sexual assault and change how forensic evidence kits are preserved and tracked. Representative Jennifer Rhodes, the bill sponsor, told the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee the measure would let survivors who lack a qualifying domestic or stalking relationship seek a protective order and would align evidence‑preservation timeframes with survivors’ statute‑of‑limitations protections.
“[The bill] is going to ensure that if you do not know the person…you’re gonna be able to receive civil protections just as you would be in a criminal protective order,” Representative Rhodes said during her opening remarks (Representative Jennifer Rhodes, SEG 025–052). She also…
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