BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Legislation that would create a statewide system of collecting and tracking rape kits in Idaho is headed to the governor's desk after receiving unanimous support in the state Legislature.
The proposal easily cleared the Senate on Tuesday, which means it just now needs Gov. "Butch" Otter’s signature to become law.
The bill would ensure medical clinics will use rape kits to collect forensic evidence after a suspected sexual assault. The bill also ensures that clinics will send that evidence for DNA testing unless the victim requests otherwise.
Rape kits contain samples of semen, saliva or blood taken from a victim during a lengthy and invasive examination. Specimens containing DNA evidence are uploaded to a national database to check for a match.
Currently, enforcement agencies are in charge of determining if a kit should be tested.
