GOVERNOR SIGNS ‘RAPE KIT’ LEGISLATION

  

Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a measure into law on Tuesday, aiming to eliminate the backlog of thousands of untested rape kits in Texas.

The measure mandates law enforcement agencies conduct an audit to determine the number, status, and location of all of the untested rape kits in the state and then set timelines to ensure they are analyzed.

It also allocates roughly $50 million toward hiring more workers at the state’s crime labs and expands access to sexual assault nurse examiners for underserved populations.

Abbott said at an afternoon press conference in Dallas the bill would better address and provide justice for survivors of rape and sexual assault.

Democratic state Rep. Victoria Neave, who sponsored the legislation, said the new law will not only eliminate the current backlog, but prevent it from happening again.