HB 1166 - DIGEST

Changes the composition of the joint legislative task force on sexual assault forensic examination best practices.

Requires the task force to: (1) Develop policies and submit recommendations on the storage, retention, and destruction of unreported sexual assault kits;

(2) Monitor implementation of state and federal legislative changes;

(3) Collaborate with the office of the attorney general to implement reforms pursuant to federal grant requirements; and

(4) Make recommendations for institutional reforms.

Provides a December 31, 2021, expiration date for the task force.

Requires the state auditor to conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the statewide sexual assault tracking system and operations of the Washington state patrol crime laboratory with respect to processing sexual assault kits.

Requires the statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to designate sexual assault kits as unreported or reported.

Expands the requirements of the specialized, intensive, and integrative training for people responsible for investigating sexual assault cases involving adult victims.

Requires the Washington state patrol, when it receives a request for examination of a sexual assault kit from a law enforcement agency, to conduct the laboratory examination of the kit and enter relevant information into the combined DNA index system, within forty-five days of receipt of the request.

Requires law enforcement agencies to submit to the Washington state patrol crime laboratory requests for forensic analysis of sexual assault kits collected before July 24, 2015, and in the possession of the law enforcement agencies.

Prohibits the disposal or destruction of untested sexual assault kits.