May 15, 2018 - SACRAMENTO – On Tuesday, May 15th at 11am, Senator Connie M. Leyva and Assemblymember David Chiu—along with a broad coalition of supporters—will hold a press conference to discuss the importance of passing legislation to ensure that all rape kits in California are tested promptly.  SB 1449 requires that newly collected rape kits be submitted within 20 days and tested no later than 120 days after receipt and AB 3118 requires a statewide audit of California’s current rape kit backlog.  

These bills come amidst the national uproar around the mismanagement of sexual assault evidence kits and what is known as the “rape kit backlog.” Some jurisdictions have worked to decrease their backlogs to varying degrees, but there is currently no comprehensive data available in California about the number of rape kits that remain untested.  While existing law encourages law enforcement to test kits in a timely manner, how different agencies interpret and implement this legislative guidance varies significantly.

WHAT:    

SB 1449 / AB 3118 Press Conference

WHO:        

Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino)        
Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco)
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley
Natasha Alexenko, Natasha’s Justice Project
Ilse Knecht, Joyful Heart Foundation
                    
WHEN:    

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 @ 11:00 am

WHERE:     

Room 1190 – Governor’s Press Conference Room / State Capitol, Sacramento

NOTE:    

Press Conference will also be live streamed at http://sd20.senate.ca.gov/
Source: Senator Connie M. Leyva