Report 2018-501 Recommendation Responses
Report 2018-501: Follow-Up—Sexual Assault Evidence Kits: California Has Not Obtained the Case Outcome Information That Would More Fully Demonstrate the Benefits of Its Rapid DNA Service Program (Release Date: March 2019)
Recommendation for Legislative Action
If it does not amend state law to require testing of all sexual assault evidence kits, the Legislature should amend the law to ensure that Justice obtains and reports case outcome information that would demonstrate the benefits of the RADS program. Specifically, the Legislature should require Justice to do the following:
1. Periodically train all RADS participants on the requirement to report and update case outcome information, and on how to properly do so.
2. Develop guidance to inform RADS participants about how to appropriately and consistently enter case outcome information within CHOP.
3. Periodically review the case outcome information within CHOP to identify RADS participants that are not reporting or updating case outcome information, and follow up with them to obtain the information.
4. Annually report to the Legislature a summary of the case outcome information it has obtained, as well as its efforts to obtain the case outcome information.
Description of Legislative Action
As of March 7, 2022, the Legislature has not taken any action to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: March 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
As of March 7, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.
AB 358 (Low, 2019) would have required Justice to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing data on sexual assault kits. The bill also would have required Justice to create a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system and, on or before July 1, 2021, submit a report on the current status and plan for launching the system to the Legislature. This bill died in the Assembly.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: March 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
AB 358 (Low) would have required Justice to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing data on sexual assault kits. The bill also would have required Justice to create a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system and, on or before July 1, 2021, submit a report on the current status and plan for launching the system to the Legislature. This bill died in the Assembly.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: March 2020
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted
Description of Legislative Action
AB 358 (Low) would require Justice to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing data on sexual assault kits. The bill would additionally require Justice to create a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system and, on or before July 1, 2021, submit a report on the current status and plan for launching the system to the Legislature. This bill was held in Assembly Appropriations Committee.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: September 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted
Description of Legislative Action
AB 358 (Low) would require Justice to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing data on sexual assault kits. The bill would additionally require Justice to create a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system and, on or before July 1, 2021, submit a report on the current status and plan for launching the system to the Legislature.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: July 2019