S 2736 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reduce the rape kit backlog and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

November 5, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. FRANKEN (for himself, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, and Mr. HATCH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reduce the rape kit backlog and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Rape is a serious problem in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Department of Justice reports that in 2006, there were an estimated 261,000 rapes and sexual assaults, and studies show only 1/3 of rapes are reported.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The collection and testing of DNA evidence is a critical tool in solving rape cases. Law enforcement officials using the Combined DNA Index System have matched unknown DNA evidence taken from crime scenes with known offender DNA profiles in the State and National DNA database 2,371 times.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Despite the availability of funding under the amendments made by the Debbie Smith Act of 2004 (title II of Public Law 108-405; 118 Stat. 2266), there exists a significant rape kit backlog in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) A 1999 study commissioned by the National Institute of Justice estimated that there was an annual backlog of 180,000 rape kits that had not been analyzed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) No agency regularly collects information regarding the scope of the rape kit backlog in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Certain States cap reimbursement for rape kits at levels that are less than 1/2 the average cost of a rape kit in those States. Yet, section 2010 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg-4) requires that in order to be eligible for grants under part T of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg et seq.) (commonly known as ‘STOP Grants’), States shall administer rape kits to survivors free of charge or provide full reimbursement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) There is a lack of sexual assault nurse examiners and health professionals who have received specialized training specific to sexual assault victims.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to seek appropriate means to address the problems surrounding forensic evidence collection in cases of sexual assault, including rape kit backlogs, reimbursement for or free provision of rape kits, and the availability of trained health professionals to administer rape kit examinations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. RAPE KIT BACKLOGS.

(a) Additional Protocol Requirement for Receiving Edward Byrne Grants- Section 502 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3752) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) A certification that the applicant has implemented a policy requiring all rape kits collected by or on behalf of the applicant to be sent to crime laboratories for forensic analysis.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Additional Debbie Smith Grant Requirements; Definitions- Section 2 of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘samples from rape kits, samples from other sexual assault evidence, and samples taken in cases without an identified suspect.’ and inserting ‘to eliminate a rape kit backlog and to ensure that DNA analyses of samples from rape kits are carried out in a timely manner.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) paragraph (6), by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) if the State or unit of local government has a rape kit backlog, include a plan to eliminate the rape kit backlog that includes performance measures to assess progress of the State or local unit of government toward a 50 percent reduction in the rape kit backlog over a 2-year period; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9) specify the portion of the amounts made available under the grant under this section that the State or unit of local government shall use for the purpose of DNA analyses of samples from untested rape kits.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (f)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the amount of funds from a grant under this section expended for the purposes of DNA analyses for untested rape kits; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) RAPE KIT- The term ‘rape kit’ means DNA evidence relating to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) sexual assault (as defined in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a))); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) conduct described in section 2251, 2251A, or 2252 of chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, regardless of whether the conduct affects interstate commerce.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) RAPE KIT BACKLOG- The term ‘rape kit backlog’ means untested rape kits that are in the possession or control of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a law enforcement agency; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a public or private crime laboratory.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) STATE- The term ‘State’ means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) UNTESTED RAPE KIT- The term ‘untested rape kit’ means a rape kit collected from a victim that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) has not undergone forensic analysis; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) for a combined total of not less than 60 days, has been in the possession or control of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) a law enforcement agency; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) a public or private crime laboratory.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Adjusting Byrne Grant Funds for Compliance and Noncompliance; Statistical Review- Section 505 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Adjusting Byrne Grant Funds for Compliance and Noncompliance-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) DEFINITION- In this subsection the term ‘date for implementation’ means the last day of the second fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR COMPLIANCE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) REDUCTION OF RAPE KIT BACKLOG-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) 50 PERCENT REDUCTION- For any fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this subsection, a State or unit of local government shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 110 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government reduced the rape kit backlog by not less than 50 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) 75 PERCENT REDUCTION- For any fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this subsection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) a State or unit of local government that has received additional funds under clause (i) in any previous fiscal year shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 110 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government reduced the rape kit backlog by not less than 75 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) a State or unit of local government that has not received additional funds under clause (i) in any previous fiscal year shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 120 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government reduced the rape kit backlog by not less than 75 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) 95 PERCENT REDUCTION- For any fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this subsection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) a State or unit of local government that has received additional funds under clause (ii) in any previous fiscal year shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 110 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government reduced the rape kit backlog by not less than 95 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) a State or unit of local government that has received additional funds under clause (i) in any previous fiscal year, and has not received additional funds under clause (ii) in any previous fiscal year, shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 120 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government reduced the rape kit backlog by not less than 95 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) a State or unit of local government that has not received additional funds under clause (i) or (ii) in any previous fiscal year shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 130 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government reduced the rape kit backlog by not less than 95 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) TIMELY PROCESSING- For the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this subsection, and each fiscal year thereafter, a State or unit of local government that, during the previous fiscal year, tested 95 percent of all rape kits collected from a victim during that previous fiscal year not later than 60 days after the date the rape kit was taken into the possession or control of a law enforcement agency of the State or unit of local government shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 105 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) WITHHOLDING OF GRANT FUNDS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) FAILURE TO REDUCE RAPE KIT BACKLOG-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) YEAR 1- For the first fiscal year after the date for implementation, a State or unit of local government shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 90 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) has a rape kit backlog;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) received a grant under this subpart during each of the 2 previous fiscal years; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) has failed to reduce the rape kit backlog by not less than 50 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) YEAR 3- For the third fiscal year beginning after the date for implementation, a State or unit of local government shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 90 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) has a rape kit backlog;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) received a grant under this subpart during the previous fiscal year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) has failed to reduce the rape kit backlog by not less than 75 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) YEARS 5, 7, AND 9- For each of the fifth, seventh, and ninth fiscal years beginning after the date for implementation, a State or unit of local government shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 90 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government if the State or unit of local government--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) has a rape kit backlog;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) received a grant under this subpart during the previous fiscal year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) has failed to reduce the rape kit backlog by not less than 95 percent, as compared to the date of enactment of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) TIMELY PROCESSING- For the second fiscal year beginning after the date for implementation, and each fiscal year thereafter, a State or unit of local government that, during the previous fiscal year, tested less than 95 percent of the rape kits collected from a victim during that previous fiscal year not later than 90 days after the date the rape kit was taken into the possession or control of a law enforcement agency of the State or unit of local government shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 95 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(j) Annual Statistical Review and Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Director of the National Institute of Justice of the Department of Justice (in this subsection referred to as the ‘Director’) shall conduct an annual comprehensive statistical review of the number of untested rape kits collected by Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) REPORT OF DATA TO DIRECTOR- Each law enforcement agency of the Federal Government or of a State or unit of local government receiving a grant under this subpart (in this subsection referred to as a ‘covered law enforcement agency’) shall record and report to the Director the number of untested rape kits administered by or on behalf of, or in the possession or control of, the covered law enforcement agency at the end of each fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS AND THE STATES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) INITIAL REPORT- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress and the States a report regarding the number of untested rape kits administered by or on behalf of, or in the possession of, a covered law enforcement agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL REPORTS- The Director shall include, in the second report, under subparagraph (A), and each subsequent report, the percentage change in the number of untested rape kits for each covered law enforcement agency, as compared to the previous year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) PENALTY- For fiscal year 2011, and each fiscal year thereafter, if a State or unit of local government has received a grant under this subpart, and a covered law enforcement agency of the State or local government has failed to report the data required under paragraph (2), the State or unit of local government shall receive an allocation under this section in an amount equal to 95 percent of the otherwise applicable allocation to the State or unit of local government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(k) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) RAPE KIT- The term ‘rape kit’ means DNA evidence relating to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) sexual assault (as defined in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a))); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) conduct described in section 2251, 2251A, or 2252 of chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, regardless of whether the conduct affects interstate commerce.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) RAPE KIT BACKLOG- The term ‘rape kit backlog’ means untested rape kits that are in the possession or control of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a law enforcement agency; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a public or private crime laboratory.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) UNTESTED RAPE KIT- The term ‘untested rape kit’ means a rape kit collected from a victim that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) has not undergone forensic analysis; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) for a combined total not less than 60 days, has been in the possession or control of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) a law enforcement agency; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) a public or private crime laboratory.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. RAPE KIT BILLING.

(a) Coordination With Regional Health Care Providers- Section 2010(a)(1) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg-4(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘assault.’ and inserting ‘assault and coordinates with regional health care providers to notify victims of sexual assault of the availability of rape exams at no cost to the victims.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Repeal of Reimbursement Option- Effective 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, section 2010(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg-4(b)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking paragraph (3);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘or’ after ‘victim;’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘victims; or’ and inserting ‘victims.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Provision of Rape Kits Regardless of Cooperation With Law Enforcement- Section 2010(d) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg-4(d)) is amended by striking ‘(d) Rule of Construction’ and all that follows through the end of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Noncooperation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- A State, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government shall not be in compliance with this section unless the State, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government complies with subsection (b) without regard to whether the victim cooperates with the law enforcement agency investigating the offense.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER TRAINING.

(a) Definition- Section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraphs (29) through (37) as paragraphs (30) through (38), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) inserting after paragraph (28) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(29) TRAINED EXAMINER- The term ‘trained examiner’ means a health care professional who has received specialized training specific to sexual assault victims, including training regarding gathering forensic evidence and medical needs.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Additional Personnel- Section 2101(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796hh(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(14) To provide for sexual assault forensic medical personnel examiners to collect and preserve evidence, provide expert testimony, and provide treatment of trauma relating to sexual assault.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE AVAILABILITY AT INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES STUDY.

(a) Study- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners and trained examiners (as defined in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)), as amended by this Act), at all Indian Health Service facilities operated pursuant to contracts under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report and Recommendations- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary and to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report containing the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a), and recommendations for improving the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners and trained examiners (as defined in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)), as amended by this Act).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink