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Committee clears bill allowing minors to receive forensic kits without parental consent
Summary
Lawmakers adopted an amendment and advanced a bill to let minors obtain a medical forensic kit without parental consent so evidence can be collected promptly; sponsors said the change removes practical barriers when parents may be the suspected abuser or unavailable.
Sponsor Senator Roberts (House sponsor Representative Freeman present) explained that House Bill 679 / Senate Bill 920 would permit minors to receive a medical forensic kit without parental consent in certain circumstances so evidence can be preserved and investigators can act promptly.
The sponsor said confusion among teachers, pastors and other mandated reporters about whether they could assist in getting a kit had led to uneven evidence collection; the amendment clarified the language and added procedural detail. Committee discussion included whether witnesses were necessary; members ultimately adopted the amendment and advanced the bill unanimously to the calendar.
Provenance: sponsor explanation and roll call are recorded in the transcript (timeline SEG 2950'SEG 3076).
