Legislation aimed at speeding up the testing of sexual assault evidence kits has cleared two Senate committees and is now eligible for consideration by the full Senate.
Oklahoma Senator George Burns is carrying Senate Bill 1584, which would establish clear deadlines for submitting and testing sexual assault forensic evidence kits, commonly known as rape kits.
“Oklahoma has made important progress addressing untested evidence kits, but we still need a clear system that ensures new kits are processed quickly and consistently,” Burns said. “This legislation puts firm timelines in place so survivors aren’t left waiting months or years for answers, while also helping law enforcement identify dangerous offenders sooner.”
The measure passed unanimously through both the Senate Public Safety Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Current Oklahoma law requires law enforcement agencies to submit rape kits to the state crime lab within 20 days. However, existing statutes do not set clear deadlines for hospitals to notify law enforcement when a kit is collected, for officers to retrieve the evidence from medical facilities, or for the crime lab to complete testing.
Senate Bill 1584 would require rape kits to be tested within 30 days. The legislation would also shorten the deadline for law enforcement to submit kits to the state crime lab from 20 days to 10 days.
Supporters say faster testing can help investigators identify suspects sooner, uncover serial offenders and potentially prevent additional crimes. DNA evidence collected during forensic exams can also play a role in clearing individuals who were wrongly accused.
If approved by the full Senate, the bill would move to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for consideration.
