An Act providing for the allowance of early evidence kits
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 10/20/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 7/24/2025 | Senate | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means |
| 6/11/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | House | House concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Favorable | 2 entries |
| Bill | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| H1896 | An Act providing for the allowance of early evidence kits | Active |
Chapter 6A is hereby amended by inserting after section 18Y the following section:-
(a) “Sexual assault evidence collection kit” means physical evidence collected (1) by a qualified health care provider; (2) from the body or clothing of a living or deceased person; sexual assault evidence collection kit does not include a self-administered sexual assault evidence collection kit. “Early Evidence Kits” Professional services that enable the early collection and storage of DNA, when accessing a traditional sexual assault forensic exam is not possible. The admissibility of such kits are subject to scrutiny in court.
Section 79 of Chapter 233 is amended by inserting the following definition:- “Hospital,” means a hospital licensed or certified by the department pursuant to section 51 of chapter 111 or other applicable law, with an emergency department, and the teaching hospital of the University of Massachusetts Medical School as defined in section 1 of chapter 111C.
Section 97B of Chapter 41 of the General Laws is amended by removing third through fifth paragraphs and inserting place thereof, the following:- At the time the evidence is obtained, a hospital licensed pursuant to Chapter 111 shall inform a victim of rape or sexual assault that the evidence of rape or sexual assault preserved in a kit shall be kept for a period of not less than 15 years. This notice shall be provided to the victim in writing by the hospital. A governmental entity, including a local law enforcement agency, a district attorney's office or any other official body of the commonwealth or of a county, city or town, that is in possession of forensic evidence, as defined in section 220 of chapter 111 shall not destroy or dispose of: (i) a sexual assault evidence collection kit; or (ii) forensic evidence that is collected for its potential evidentiary value during the investigation of a rape or sexual assault unless one of the following occur: (i) the case for which the evidence was collected resulted in a conviction and the sentence has been completed; (ii) all suspects identified by testing a sexual assault evidence collection kit are deceased (iii) or the length of the statute of limitations for the identified crime whether or not that crime has been charged, and in no case shall the forensic evidence be retained for less than 15 years. Each governmental entity shall retain all such forensic evidence in a manner that is reasonably designed to preserve the forensic evidence and to prevent its destruction or deterioration. On written request by the victim from whom the evidence was collected, a law enforcement agency with custody of a sexual assault evidence collection kit or other crime scene evidence relating to a sexual assault shall: (i) notify the victim no later than 60 days before the date of intended destruction or disposal of the evidence; or (ii) retain the evidence for 12 months longer than the time period specified in paragraph 3 of this subsection or for a time period agreed to by the victim and 3 the law enforcement agency. The director of the crime laboratory within the department of state police and the forensic sciences advisory board established by section 184A of chapter 6, shall promulgate regulations governing the retention and preservation of forensic evidence by a governmental entity. The regulations shall include: (i) standards for maintaining the integrity of the materials over time; (ii) the designation of officials at each governmental entity with custodial responsibility; and (iii) requirements for contemporaneously recorded documentation of individuals having and obtaining custody of the forensic evidence; (iv) guidance on the use of early evidence kits; and (v) in consultation with the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General, educating consumers about the use of early evidence kits, including information regarding the kits’ admissibility in a criminal prosecution and identifying other resources for victims of sexual assault.
Section 97B1/2 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws is amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following:- (b) A health care provider that performs a sexual assault evidence collection kit exam on a victim of sexual assault shall provide the victim with: (i) contact information for the investigating law enforcement agency that the victim may contact about the status and results of the kit analysis; and (ii) written information describing the laws and policies governing the testing, preservation, and disposal of a sexual assault evidence collection kit; (iv) all available results of the kit analysis except results that would impede or compromise an ongoing investigation; and (v) contact information for the investigating law enforcement agency that the victim may contact about the status and results of the kit analysis.
Section 97B1/2 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws is amended by striking clauses (b)-(d) and inserting the following:- (c) The crime laboratory within the department of the state police or the police department of a municipality that operates a crime laboratory and has a population of more than 150,000, in the case of a sexual assault alleged to have taken place in that municipality, shall test all sexual assault evidence kits within 30 days of receipt from local law enforcement. (d) In instances where the crime laboratory within the department of the state police or the police department of a municipality that operates a crime laboratory has a population of less than 150,000, in the case of a sexual assault alleged to have taken place in that municipality, the laboratory may accept self-administered sexual assault evidence kit as defined in section 18Z of chapter 6A that if accepted shall be tested all sexual within 30 days of receipt from local law enforcement. (d) Early evidence kits may be transferred to a law enforcement agency: (i) by a hospital or a child advocacy center within 30 days after the exam is performed; or (ii) by a government agency in possession of a kit, unless the agency is otherwise required to retain the kit by law or court rule. (e) Except as provided in subsection Section 214 of Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, an investigating law enforcement agency that receives an early evidence kit must label the early evidence as such to differentiate between those collected by SANEs and those collected by alleged victims. An investigating law enforcement agency that receives an early evidence kit may: (i) submit the kit and all requested associated reference standards to a forensic laboratory for analysis within 30 days of receipt of the kit and all requested associated reference standards; and (ii) make use of certified sexual assault crisis programs or other qualified community–based sexual assault victim service organizations that can provide services and support to survivors of sexual assault. (f) For the purpose of altering requirements for the storage and preservation of sexual assault testing, preservation, and disposal of a sexual assault evidence collection kit, an investigating law enforcement agency that receives a sexual assault evidence collection kit, within 30 days after a request by the victim from whom the evidence was collected, shall provide the victim with: (i) information about the status of the kit analysis; and (ii) all available results of the kit analysis except results that would impede or compromise an ongoing investigation. (g) In cases where testing results in a DNA profile, the crime laboratory shall enter the full profile into CODIS and the state DNA database. (h) Each sexual assault evidence kit shall be entered into the statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking system pursuant to section 18X of Chapter 6A.
Section 214 of chapter 69 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by striking out line XX after the words statute of limitations and inserting the following:- An early evidence collection kit may be submitted to a forensic laboratory for analysis unless: (i) there is clear evidence disproving the allegation of sexual assault; (ii) the facts alleged, if true, could not be interpreted to violate a provision in sections 13B, 13B1/2, 13B3/4, 13F, 13H, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 23, 23A, 23B, 24 or section 24B of chapter 265 or section 3 of chapter 272; (iii) the alleged victim from whom the evidence was collected declines to give consent for analysis; or (iv) the suspect’s profile has been collected for entry as a convicted offender for a qualifying offense in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the suspect has pleaded guilty to the offense that led to the sexual assault evidence collection kit’s use. If a provision of subsection (i) of this section is determined to be satisfied after the submission of the victim’s sexual assault evidence collection kit for analysis, testing may be terminated or not initiated. A forensic laboratory that receives an early evidence collection kit and all requested associated reference standards for analysis may determine suitability and complete screening, testing, and analysis in a timely manner.
Section 215 of chapter 69 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (b)(v) the following:- (vi) remain anonymous and not file a criminal complaint and shall be informed that the victim may file a criminal complaint at a future time.
SECTION 1. Chapter 6A is hereby amended by inserting after section 18Y the following section:- Section 18Z (a) “Sexual assault evidence collection kit” means physical evidence collected (1) by a qualified health care provider; (2) from the body or clothing of a living or deceased person; sexual assault evidence collection kit does not include a self-administered sexual assault evidence collection kit. “Early Evidence Kits” Professional services that enable the early collection and storage of DNA, when accessing a traditional sexual assault forensic exam is not possible. The admissibility of such kits are subject to scrutiny in court. SECTION 2. Section 79 of Chapter 233 is amended by inserting the following definition:- “Hospital,” means a hospital licensed or certified by the department pursuant to section 51 of chapter 111 or other applicable law, with an emergency department, and the teaching hospital of the University of Massachusetts Medical School as defined in section 1 of chapter 111C. SECTION 3. Section 97B of Chapter 41 of the General Laws is amended by removing third through fifth paragraphs and inserting place thereof, the following:- At the time the evidence is obtained, a hospital licensed pursuant to Chapter 111 shall inform a victim of rape or sexual assault that the evidence of rape or sexual assault preserved in a kit shall be kept for a period of not less than 15 years. This notice shall be provided to the victim in writing by the hospital. A governmental entity, including a local law enforcement agency, a district attorney's office or any other official body of the commonwealth or of a county, city or town, that is in possession of forensic evidence, as defined in section 220 of chapter 111 shall not destroy or dispose of: (i) a sexual assault evidence collection kit; or (ii) forensic evidence that is collected for its potential evidentiary value during the investigation of a rape or sexual assault unless one of the following occur: (i) the case for which the evidence was collected resulted in a conviction and the sentence has been completed; (ii) all suspects identified by testing a sexual assault evidence collection kit are deceased (iii) or the length of the statute of limitations for the identified crime whether or not that crime has been charged, and in no case shall the forensic evidence be retained for less than 15 years. Each governmental entity shall retain all such forensic evidence in a manner that is reasonably designed to preserve the forensic evidence and to prevent its destruction or deterioration. On written request by the victim from whom the evidence was collected, a law enforcement agency with custody of a sexual assault evidence collection kit or other crime scene evidence relating to a sexual assault shall: (i) notify the victim no later than 60 days before the date of intended destruction or disposal of the evidence; or (ii) retain the evidence for 12 months longer than the time period specified in paragraph 3 of this subsection or for a time period agreed to by the victim and 3 the law enforcement agency. The director of the crime laboratory within the department of state police and the forensic sciences advisory board established by section 184A of chapter 6, shall promulgate regulations governing the retention and preservation of forensic evidence by a governmental entity. The regulations shall include: (i) standards for maintaining the integrity of the materials over time; (ii) the designation of officials at each governmental entity with custodial responsibility; and (iii) requirements for contemporaneously recorded documentation of individuals having and obtaining custody of the forensic evidence; (iv) guidance on the use of early evidence kits; and (v) in consultation with the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General, educating consumers about the use of early evidence kits, including information regarding the kits’ admissibility in a criminal prosecution and identifying other resources for victims of sexual assault. SECTION 4. Section 97B1/2 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws is amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following:- (b) A health care provider that performs a sexual assault evidence collection kit exam on a victim of sexual assault shall provide the victim with: (i) contact information for the investigating law enforcement agency that the victim may contact about the status and results of the kit analysis; and (ii) written information describing the laws and policies governing the testing, preservation, and disposal of a sexual assault evidence collection kit; (iv) all available results of the kit analysis except results that would impede or compromise an ongoing investigation; and (v) contact information for the investigating law enforcement agency that the victim may contact about the status and results of the kit analysis. SECTION 5. Section 97B1/2 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws is amended by striking clauses (b)-(d) and inserting the following:- (c) The crime laboratory within the department of the state police or the police department of a municipality that operates a crime laboratory and has a population of more than 150,000, in the case of a sexual assault alleged to have taken place in that municipality, shall test all sexual assault evidence kits within 30 days of receipt from local law enforcement. (d) In instances where the crime laboratory within the department of the state police or the police department of a municipality that operates a crime laboratory has a population of less than 150,000, in the case of a sexual assault alleged to have taken place in that municipality, the laboratory may accept self-administered sexual assault evidence kit as defined in section 18Z of chapter 6A that if accepted shall be tested all sexual within 30 days of receipt from local law enforcement. (d) Early evidence kits may be transferred to a law enforcement agency: (i) by a hospital or a child advocacy center within 30 days after the exam is performed; or (ii) by a government agency in possession of a kit, unless the agency is otherwise required to retain the kit by law or court rule. (e) Except as provided in subsection Section 214 of Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, an investigating law enforcement agency that receives an early evidence kit must label the early evidence as such to differentiate between those collected by SANEs and those collected by alleged victims. An investigating law enforcement agency that receives an early evidence kit may: (i) submit the kit and all requested associated reference standards to a forensic laboratory for analysis within 30 days of receipt of the kit and all requested associated reference standards; and (ii) make use of certified sexual assault crisis programs or other qualified community–based sexual assault victim service organizations that can provide services and support to survivors of sexual assault. (f) For the purpose of altering requirements for the storage and preservation of sexual assault testing, preservation, and disposal of a sexual assault evidence collection kit, an investigating law enforcement agency that receives a sexual assault evidence collection kit, within 30 days after a request by the victim from whom the evidence was collected, shall provide the victim with: (i) information about the status of the kit analysis; and (ii) all available results of the kit analysis except results that would impede or compromise an ongoing investigation. (g) In cases where testing results in a DNA profile, the crime laboratory shall enter the full profile into CODIS and the state DNA database. (h) Each sexual assault evidence kit shall be entered into the statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking system pursuant to section 18X of Chapter 6A. SECTION 6. Section 214 of chapter 69 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by striking out line XX after the words statute of limitations and inserting the following:- An early evidence collection kit may be submitted to a forensic laboratory for analysis unless: (i) there is clear evidence disproving the allegation of sexual assault; (ii) the facts alleged, if true, could not be interpreted to violate a provision in sections 13B, 13B1/2, 13B3/4, 13F, 13H, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 23, 23A, 23B, 24 or section 24B of chapter 265 or section 3 of chapter 272; (iii) the alleged victim from whom the evidence was collected declines to give consent for analysis; or (iv) the suspect’s profile has been collected for entry as a convicted offender for a qualifying offense in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the suspect has pleaded guilty to the offense that led to the sexual assault evidence collection kit’s use. If a provision of subsection (i) of this section is determined to be satisfied after the submission of the victim’s sexual assault evidence collection kit for analysis, testing may be terminated or not initiated. A forensic laboratory that receives an early evidence collection kit and all requested associated reference standards for analysis may determine suitability and complete screening, testing, and analysis in a timely manner. SECTION 7. Section 215 of chapter 69 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (b)(v) the following:- (vi) remain anonymous and not file a criminal complaint and shall be informed that the victim may file a criminal complaint at a future time.