Jul 3, 2015 2 min read

The state Senate this week unanimously passed state Rep. Brandon Neuman’s bill to allow “rape test kits,” or DNA evidence stemming from sexual assaults, to be processed more quickly.

The bill also was passed unanimously by the state House, and it will head to Gov. Tom Wolf for final approval. Neuman, D-North Strabane, said the bill would codify policies and procedures for handling DNA evidence, which would enable state and local law enforcement authorities to apply for federal grants through the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program.

Authorities would be required to submit DNA evidence within 15 days to an approved laboratory, which would then have six months to complete the necessary tests. Once the tests are completed, victims or surviving family members would need to be notified.

The Department of Health would be required to designate laboratories approved to receive and test the evidence. It would also allow authorities to upload testing results into databases to help solve related sexual assault cases.

“A similar law enacted in Ohio has led to the identification of hundreds of serial rapists or potential serial rapists in that state,” Neuman said.

“This is a wonderful example of collaboration to keep our community and particularly our children safe, by increasing the likelihood of apprehending and convicting offenders,” said Diane Moyer, legal director for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.