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Resolve, To Establish the Committee To Study the Processing of Evidence from Sexual Assault Test Kits
Sec. 1 The Committee To Study the Processing of Evidence from Sexual Assault Test Kits established. Resolved: That the Committee To Study the Processing of Evidence from Sexual Assault Test Kits, referred to in this resolve as "the committee," is established; and be it further
Sec. 2 Committee membership. Resolved: That the committee consists of 11 members as follows:
1. Four members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
A. Two members of the Senate, including one member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Senate;
B. One member who is a representative of a statewide organization working to provide victim services to victims of sexual violence and who has experience in accompanying victims during the collection of forensic evidence; and
C. One member who is a representative of a statewide organization of district attorneys;
2. Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:
A. Two members of the House, including one member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the House;
B. One member who is a representative of a statewide coalition of organizations working to end sexual assault;
C. One member who is a representative of a statewide organization of chiefs of police; and
D. One member who is a representative of a statewide organization of sheriffs;
3. The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee; and
4. The Director of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory or the director's designee; and be it further
Sec. 3 Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the committee; and be it further
Sec. 4 Appointments; convening of committee. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the committee. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the committee to meet and conduct its business; and be it further
Sec. 5 Duties. Resolved: That the committee shall study the processing of evidence from sexual assault test kits as follows:
1. Receive information on the use of sexual assault test kits and review data from state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies and from programs that serve victims of sexual assault and advocates for victims of sexual assault;
2. Determine the current status of the processing of sexual assault test kits and the prevalence of and reasons for kits' not being analyzed; and
3. Review information on the resources and funding necessary to ensure the timely processing of sexual assault test kits and to meet the needs of victims of sexual assault; and be it further
Sec. 6 Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the committee; and be it further
Sec. 7 Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 6, 2017, the committee shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety for consideration during the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature; and be it further
Sec. 8 Outside funding. Resolved: That the committee may seek funding contributions to partially or fully fund the costs of the study. All funding is subject to approval by the Legislative Council in accordance with its policies.
 
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Committee To Study the Processing of Evidence from Sexual Assault Test Kits. The resolve provides for an 11-member committee that will study the processing of evidence from sexual assault test kits and make recommendations and submit suggested legislation in a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety by December 6, 2017. The resolve authorizes the committee to seek funding contributions to partially or fully fund the costs of the study but does not make the work of the committee contingent on outside funding.