Resolve, To Establish the Committee To Study the Processing of Evidence from Sexual Assault Test Kits
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1128
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, BELLOWS, DUNPHY, FECTEAU, MADIGAN, MOONEN, O'NEIL, PIERCE, TIPPING, WARREN

Legislative Document
No. 1128
H.P. 791
House of Representatives, March 23, 2017
Resolve, To Establish the Committee To Study the Processing of 
Evidence from Sexual Assault Test Kits
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DAUGHTRY of Brunswick.
Cosponsored by Senator BELLOWS of Kennebec and
Representatives: DUNPHY of Old Town, FECTEAU of Biddeford, MADIGAN of Waterville, 
MOONEN of Portland, O'NEIL of Saco, PIERCE of Falmouth, TIPPING of Orono, WARREN 
of Hallowell.
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.