BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1744
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 6, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
1744 (Cooper) - As Introduced February 1, 2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Public Safety |Vote:|7 - 0 |
|Committee: | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the Department of Justice's (DOJ)'s, Bureau
of Forensic Services the California Association of Crime
Laboratory Directors, and the California Association of
Criminalists to work collaboratively with public crime
AB 1744
Page 2
laboratories, in conjunction with the California Clinical
Forensic Medical Training Center, to develop a standardized
sexual assault medical evidence kit to be used by all California
Jurisdictions.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor absorbable costs to DOJ.
COMMENTS:
1)Background and Purpose. According to the author, "Sexual
assault victims and California communities expect effective
and competent intervention from all disciplines in response to
sexual assault. Inter-agency cooperation and collaboration
within disciplines is essential to deliver optimum care to
victims of sexual assault."
There are approximately 10-12 different sexual assault
evidence "rape kits" used in California. Consequently, some
forensic medical examination teams are required to be familiar
with multiple kits which creates the potential for error.
Also, crime laboratories create their own kits based on the
statutory exam elements and the required standard state form.
As a result, there are variations among crime laboratories.
Some exam teams serve multiple crime laboratories depending
upon which law enforcement jurisdiction the crime occurred and
must adapt to variations in crime laboratory evidence kits.
AB 1744 requires specific relevant agencies to collaborate and
develop a standardized sexual assault evidence kit."
2)Support. According to California Coalition Against Sexual
Assault, "California does not have one standardized sexual
assault evidence kit, resulting in variation in DNA evidence
AB 1744
Page 3
collection, preservation, packaging, and labeling in multiple
jurisdictions. It is time for the state's crime labs to
collaborate and agree upon one evidence kit to minimize
confusion and the potential for error."
Analysis Prepared by:Pedro Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081