NY State Senate Bill 2021-S4949

Senate Bill S4949

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Relates to the processing of evidence related to sexual offenses and the inclusion of such results in the state DNA identification index

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Internet And Technology Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to internet and technology
Feb 19, 2021	referred to internet and technology

co-Sponsors

2021-S4949 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Internet And Technology
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§995, 995-b, 995-d, 995-e, 995-f & 995-c, Exec L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S6145
2015-2016: S1455
2017-2018: S6238
2019-2020: S4963
2023-2024: S735

2021-S4949 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the processing of evidence related to sexual offenses and the inclusion of such results in the state DNA identification index; requires evidence of sexual offenses to be collected and forwarded to any forensic DNA laboratory for testing within the established time frame.

2021-S4949 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S4949

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the processing of
evidence related to sexual offenses and the inclusion of such results in
the state DNA identification index

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation requires evidence of sexual offenses to be collected
and forwarded to any forensic DNA laboratory for testing within the
established time frame.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Subdivisions 2 and 9 of section 995 of the executive law are amended to
include forensic testing on evidence of sexual offenses as part of
forensic DNA analysis.

Subdivisions 6 and 7 of section 995-c of the executive law are amended
to allow a victim of a sexual offense to have access to information
regarding (i) whether a sexual offense forensic evidence test is
performed by any forensic DNA laboratory; (ii) whether the result of a
sexual offense forensic evidence test of analysis was entered into the
state DNA identification index; and (iii) whether there is a match
between the result of a sexual offense evidence test of analysis and the
state DNA identification index.

A new subdivision 10 is added to section 995-c of the executive law to
read as follows: (i) No later than ten business days after being booked
into evidence, a law enforcement agency that receives sexual offense
forensic evidence shall forward such evidence to any forensic DNA labo-
ratory; (ii) such laboratory shall perform testing and analysis within
three months of its receipt of the sexual offense forensic evidence if
sufficient staffing and resources are available.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In New York State, forensic evidence collected as part of a sexual
assault investigation is not automatically tested or processed, but
instead can be stored for an indefinite amount of time. In some cases,
this can result in a wait of years, or even decades, before a rape kit
is processed, if it is processed at all. This delay in testing rape kits
can cause a delay in justice for the rape victim.  Detroit, Michigan,
had a rape kit backlog of over 11,000 kits in 2009. When Detroit made a
concerted effort to reduce this backlog, within the first 153 rape kits
tested, 20 serial rapists were discovered. If the rape kits had been
entered sooner, it is possible that those rapists would have been caught
after the first rape and subsequent rapes could have been prevented. New
York City has a policy of testing every rape kit collected. After this
policy was enacted, the arrest rate for rape skyrocketed from 40 percent
to 70 percent of reported cases.

Collecting a rape kit is a lengthy and invasive process, undergone by
the victim with the expectation that the kit will be processed. When
evidence in a rape is not tested, rape victims feel as though they are
not being taken seriously; this may discourage other rape victims from
coming forward. If a policy of testing every rape kit is adopted, more
sexual assaults may be reported, resulting in an increased amount of
evidence and prosecution for this heinous crime.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: 54963 - REFERRED TO INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on September 1, 2022

2021-S4949 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4949
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 19, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. PARKER, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to  the  Committee  on  Internet  and
   Technology
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  executive law, in relation to the processing of
   evidence related to sexual offenses and the inclusion of such  results
   in the state DNA identification index

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 9 of section 995 of the  executive  law,
 as  added  by  chapter  737  of the laws of 1994, are amended to read as
 follows:
   2. For purposes of forensic DNA analysis, the term "forensic DNA labo-
 ratory" shall mean any forensic laboratory operated by the state or unit
 of local government, that performs forensic DNA testing on crime scenes,
 FORENSIC TESTING ON EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL  OFFENSES  or  materials  derived
 from  the human body for use as evidence in a criminal proceeding or for
 purposes of identification and the term  "forensic  DNA  testing"  shall
 mean  any  test that employs techniques to examine deoxyribonucleic acid
 (DNA) derived from the human body for the purpose of providing  informa-
 tion  to  resolve issues of identification.  Regulation pursuant to this
 article shall not include DNA testing  on  materials  derived  from  the
 human  body  pursuant to title five of article five of the public health
 law for the purpose of determining a person's genetic disease or medical
 condition and shall not include a laboratory  operated  by  the  federal
 government.
   9.  "DNA  subcommittee"  shall  mean  the subcommittee on forensic DNA
 laboratories and forensic DNA AND SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE test-
 ing established pursuant to subdivision thirteen of section nine hundred
 ninety-five-b of this article.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09310-01-1

 S. 4949                             2
 
   § 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 995-b of the  executive
 law,  as added by chapter 737 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (b)  ensure that forensic analyses, including forensic DNA testing AND
 SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE TESTING, are  performed  in  accordance
 with the highest scientific standards practicable;
   §  3.  Subdivisions 7, 11, 12 and 13 of section 995-b of the executive
 law, as added by chapter 737 of the laws of 1994 and  paragraph  (a)  of
 subdivision  13  as  amended  by  chapter  560  of the laws of 1999, are
 amended to read as follows:
   7. The commission and DNA subcommittee may establish, appoint, and set
 terms of members to as many advisory councils as it deems  necessary  to
 provide  specialized  expertise  to  the  commission with respect to new
 forensic technologies including DNA  testing  methodologies  AND  SEXUAL
 OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE TESTING METHODOLOGIES.
   11. Upon the recommendation of the DNA subcommittee established pursu-
 ant to subdivision thirteen of this section, the commission shall desig-
 nate  one or more approved methodologies for the performance of forensic
 DNA testing AND SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EVIDENCE, and shall  review  and
 act  upon  applications  by  forensic  DNA  laboratories for approval to
 perform forensic DNA testing.
   12. Promulgate standards for a determination of a  match  between  the
 DNA  records  contained  in the state DNA identification index and a DNA
 record of a person OR SEXUAL OFFENSE  FORENSIC  EVIDENCE  submitted  for
 comparison therewith.
   13.  (a) The commission shall establish a subcommittee on forensic DNA
 laboratories and forensic DNA AND SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE test-
 ing.  The  chair  of the subcommittee shall be appointed by the chair of
 the commission. The chair of the subcommittee shall  appoint  six  other
 members  to the subcommittee, one of whom shall represent the discipline
 of molecular biology and be appointed upon  the  recommendation  of  the
 commissioner  of  the  department of health, one of whom shall represent
 the discipline of population genetics and be appointed upon  the  recom-
 mendation  of  the commissioner of the department of health, one of whom
 shall be representative of the discipline of  laboratory  standards  and
 quality  assurance  regulation  and monitoring and be appointed upon the
 recommendation of the commissioner of the department of health,  one  of
 whom shall be a forensic scientist and be appointed upon the recommenda-
 tion  of the commissioner of the department of health, one of whom shall
 be representative of  the  discipline  of  population  genetics  and  be
 appointed  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  commissioner  of criminal
 justice services and one of whom shall be representative of  the  disci-
 pline  of  forensic  science and be appointed upon the recommendation of
 the commissioner of  criminal  justice  services.  Members  of  the  DNA
 subcommittee  shall  serve  for  three  year terms and be subject to the
 conditions of service specified in section nine hundred ninety-five-a of
 this article.
   (b) The DNA subcommittee shall assess and evaluate all DNA AND  SEXUAL
 OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE methodologies proposed to be used for forensic
 analysis,  and  make reports and recommendations to the commission as it
 deems necessary. The DNA subcommittee shall make binding recommendations
 for adoption by the commission addressing minimum  scientific  standards
 to  be  utilized  in conducting forensic DNA AND SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC
 EVIDENCE analysis including, but not limited to, examination  of  speci-
 mens, population studies and methods employed to determine probabilities
 and  interpret  test  results. The DNA subcommittee may require a demon-

 S. 4949                             3
 
 stration by an independent laboratory of any proposed  forensic  DNA  OR
 SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE testing methodology proposed to be used
 by a forensic laboratory.
   (c)  The  DNA  subcommittee  shall  make  binding  recommendations for
 adoption by the commission with regard to an accreditation  program  for
 laboratories   performing  forensic  DNA  AND  SEXUAL  OFFENSE  FORENSIC
 EVIDENCE testing in accordance with the provisions of the state adminis-
 trative procedure act. Such recommendations shall include  the  adoption
 and   implementation   of  internal  and  external  proficiency  testing
 programs, including, if possible, a blind external  proficiency  testing
 program  for  forensic  laboratories  performing forensic DNA AND SEXUAL
 OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE  testing.  The  DNA  subcommittee  shall  also
 provide the commission with a list of accepted proficiency testers.
   (d)  The DNA subcommittee shall be authorized to advise the commission
 on any other matters regarding the implementation of scientific controls
 and quality assurance procedures for the performance of forensic DNA AND
 SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC  EVIDENCE  testing,  or  on  any  other  matters
 referred to it by the commission.
   §  4.  Section  995-d of the executive law, as added by chapter 737 of
 the laws of 1994 and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 560 of the laws
 of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
   § 995-d. Confidentiality.  1.  All  records,  findings,  reports,  and
 results of DNA AND SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE testing performed on
 any person shall be confidential and may not be disclosed or redisclosed
 without  the consent of the subject of such DNA OR SEXUAL OFFENSE FOREN-
 SIC EVIDENCE testing. Such records, findings, reports and results  shall
 not  be  released to insurance companies, employers or potential employ-
 ers, health providers,  employment  screening  or  personnel  companies,
 agencies,  or  services,  private investigation services, and may not be
 disclosed in response to a subpoena or other compulsory legal process or
 warrant, or upon request or order of any  agency,  authority,  division,
 office,  corporation, partnership, or any other private or public entity
 or person, except that nothing contained herein shall  prohibit  disclo-
 sure  in  response to a subpoena issued on behalf of the subject of such
 DNA OR SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE record or on behalf of  a  party
 in  a  civil  proceeding where the subject of such DNA OR SEXUAL OFFENSE
 FORENSIC EVIDENCE record has put such record in issue.
   2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of this  section,
 records, findings, reports, and results of DNA testing, other than a DNA
 record  maintained  in  the  state  DNA  identification  index,  may  be
 disclosed in a criminal proceeding to the court,  the  prosecution,  and
 the  defense  pursuant  to a written request on a form prescribed by the
 commissioner of the division of criminal  justice  services.    Notwith-
 standing  the  provisions  of  subdivision one of this section, a DNA OR
 SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE record  maintained  in  the  state  DNA
 identification  index  may be disclosed pursuant to section nine hundred
 ninety-five-c of this article.
   § 5. Section 995-e of the executive law, as added by  chapter  737  of
 the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
   § 995-e. Applicability. This article shall not apply to a forensic DNA
 laboratory  operated  by any agency of the federal government, or to any
 forensic DNA test OR SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE TEST performed  by
 any such federal laboratory.
   §  6. Section 995-f of the executive law, as amended by chapter 560 of
 the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:

 S. 4949                             4
 
   § 995-f. Penalties. Any person who (a) intentionally discloses  a  DNA
 record,  [or]  the  results  of  a forensic DNA test or analysis, OR THE
 RESULT OF A SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE TEST  OF  ANALYSIS,  to  an
 individual  or  agency  other than one authorized to have access to such
 records  pursuant  to this article or (b) intentionally uses or receives
 DNA records, [or] the results of a forensic DNA test or analysis, OR THE
 RESULTS OF A SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC  EVIDENCE  TEST  OF  ANALYSIS,  for
 purposes other than those authorized pursuant to this article or (c) any
 person  who  knowingly tampers or attempts to tamper with any DNA sample
 [or], the collection  container  OR  SEXUAL  OFFENSE  FORENSIC  EVIDENCE
 SAMPLE without lawful authority shall be guilty of a class E felony.
   §  7.  Subdivisions  6 and 7 of section 995-c of the executive law, as
 added by chapter 737 of the laws of 1994, are amended and a new subdivi-
 sion 10 is added to read as follows:
   6. DNA AND SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE records contained  in  the
 state  DNA identification index shall be released only for the following
 purposes:
   (a) to a federal law enforcement agency, or to a state  or  local  law
 enforcement  agency  or  district  attorney's office for law enforcement
 identification purposes upon submission of a DNA  record  in  connection
 with  the  investigation  of  the commission of one or more crimes or to
 assist in the recovery or identification  of  specified  human  remains,
 including  identification of missing persons, provided that there exists
 between the division and such agency a written agreement  governing  the
 use  and  dissemination  of  such  DNA  records  in  accordance with the
 provisions of this article;
   (b) for criminal defense purposes, to a defendant or his or her repre-
 sentative, who shall also have access to samples and analyses  performed
 in connection with the case in which such defendant is charged;
   (c)  after personally identifiable information has been removed by the
 division, to an entity authorized by the division  for  the  purpose  of
 creating  or  maintaining  a population statistics database or for iden-
 tification research and protocol development for forensic  DNA  analysis
 or quality control purposes; AND
   (D)  IN  THE  CASE  OF A VICTIM OF A SEXUAL OFFENSE, SUCH VICTIM SHALL
 HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING:
   (I) WHETHER A SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE TEST  IS  PERFORMED  BY
 ANY FORENSIC DNA LABORATORY;
   (II)  WHETHER THE RESULT OF A SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE TEST OF
 ANALYSIS WAS ENTERED INTO THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX; AND
   (III) WHETHER THERE IS A MATCH BETWEEN THE RESULT OF A SEXUAL  OFFENSE
 EVIDENCE TEST OF ANALYSIS AND THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX.
   7.  Requests for DNA AND SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE records must
 be in writing, or in a form prescribed by the division authorized by the
 requesting party, and, other than a request pursuant to paragraph (b) of
 subdivision six of this section, maintained on file  at  the  state  DNA
 identification index in accordance with rules and regulations promulgat-
 ed by the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services.
   10. (A) THE COMMISSIONER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, IN CONSULTATION
 WITH  THE  DNA  SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE COMMISSION, IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO
 ESTABLISH A PLAN FOR THE  TIMELY  TESTING  OF  SEXUAL  OFFENSE  FORENSIC
 EVIDENCE  AND  THE  INCLUSION  OF THE RESULTS OF SUCH TESTING IN THE DNA
 IDENTIFICATION INDEX PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (B) ANY FORENSIC EVIDENCE COLLECTED OR OBTAINED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
 INVESTIGATION OF A CRIME OR OFFENSE CONTAINED  IN  ARTICLE  ONE  HUNDRED
 THIRTY  OF  THE PENAL LAW SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICA-

 S. 4949                             5
 
 TION INDEX PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE. THIS SUBDIVISION DOES NOT REQUIRE A
 FORENSIC DNA LABORATORY TO TEST ALL ITEMS OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE  OBTAINED
 IN  A  SEXUAL  OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE EXAMINATION OR A SEXUAL OFFENSE
 INVESTIGATION.  FOR  THE  PURPOSE OF TIMELY PROCESSING OF SEXUAL OFFENSE
 FORENSIC EVIDENCE, THIS SUBDIVISION INTENDS  TO  ENSURE  THAT  THE  BEST
 EVIDENCE  IS  SELECTED  AND  ANALYZED  AS  SOON AS PRACTICABLE AMONG THE
 REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE, BASED ON THE  MEDICAL  EXAM-
 INATION  OR THE SEXUAL OFFENSE INVESTIGATION, THE COLLECTION AND PRESER-
 VATION OF THAT EVIDENCE, AND THE  TRANSFER  OF  THE  EVIDENCE  FROM  THE
 MEDICAL FACILITY OR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO THE FORENSIC DNA LABO-
 RATORY.
   (C)  (I)  NO  LATER  THAN  TEN  BUSINESS  DAYS AFTER BEING BOOKED INTO
 EVIDENCE, A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT RECEIVES SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC
 EVIDENCE SHALL FORWARD SUCH EVIDENCE  TO  ANY  FORENSIC  DNA  LABORATORY
 WHICH  HAS  BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION TO PERFORM SEXUAL OFFENSE
 FORENSIC EVIDENCE TESTING AND ANALYSIS FOR INCLUSION IN  THE  STATE  DNA
 IDENTIFICATION INDEX.
   (II)  SUCH LABORATORY SHALL PERFORM THE REQUISITE TESTING AND ANALYSIS
 WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF  ITS  RECEIPT  OF  THE  SEXUAL  OFFENSE  FORENSIC
 EVIDENCE IF SUFFICIENT STAFFING AND RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. AN ANALYSIS
 SHALL INCLUDE AN EXAMINATION OF DNA EVIDENCE, DEVELOPMENT OF A POTENTIAL
 SUSPECT  PROFILE,  AND THE FORWARDING OF THE RESULTING DNA RECORD TO THE
 STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS OF THE
 DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES.
   (D) THE FAILURE OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO SUBMIT  SEXUAL  OFFENSE
 FORENSIC  EVIDENCE  WITHIN THE PERIOD REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL
 NOT AFFECT THE AUTHORITY OF (I) THE AGENCY TO SUBMIT THE EVIDENCE  TO  A
 FORENSIC DNA LABORATORY FOR ANALYSIS OR (II) OF A FORENSIC DNA LABORATO-
 RY TO ANALYZE THE EVIDENCE OR PROVIDE THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS TO THE
 APPROPRIATE AGENCIES AND THE STATE DNA IDENTIFICATION INDEX.
   (E)  A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN POSSESSION OF SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC
 EVIDENCE THAT HAS NOT BEEN FORWARDED TO A FORENSIC DNA LABORATORY WITHIN
 THE TIME FRAME REQUIRED BY THIS  SUBDIVISION  SHALL:  (I)  BY  SEPTEMBER
 FIRST OF EACH YEAR SUBMIT TO THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES A
 LIST  OF  THE  AGENCY'S  ACTIVE  CRIMINAL CASES FOR WHICH SEXUAL OFFENSE
 FORENSIC EVIDENCE HAS NOT YET BEEN FORWARDED TO A FORENSIC DNA LABORATO-
 RY; AND (II) SUBMIT TO THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE  SERVICES  OR  A
 FORENSIC  DNA LABORATORY, AS APPROPRIATE AND SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY
 OF STORAGE SPACE, ALL SEXUAL OFFENSE  FORENSIC  EVIDENCE  PERTAINING  TO
 THOSE  ACTIVE  CRIMINAL  CASES  THAT  HAS NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED FOR LAB
 ANALYSIS WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (F) NO LATER THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF  THIS  SUBDIVI-
 SION,  THE  DIVISION  OF  CRIMINAL  JUSTICE SERVICES SHALL SUBMIT TO THE
 GOVERNOR AND THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES OF  THE  SENATE  AND
 THE  ASSEMBLY A REQUEST FOR ANY NECESSARY FUNDING TO ACCOMPLISH ANALYSES
 OF SEXUAL OFFENSE FORENSIC EVIDENCE REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (G) THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES MAY SOLICIT  APPROPRIATE
 GRANTS  AND  FUNDING  OPPORTUNITIES  IN  FURTHERANCE  OF  THE ACTIVITIES
 REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION FROM FOUNDATIONS, OTHER GOVERNMENTAL  AGEN-
 CIES  AND  INDIVIDUALS,  UNDER SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE DIVISION
 SHALL DEEM APPROPRIATE.
   § 8. This act shall take effect September 1, 2022.

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Senate Bill S4949

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Kevin S. Parker