Plain English Breakdown
The official bill summary confirms the intent to amend Code Section 17-5-71 but does not provide the new specific timeframes for retention.
HB626: Extending Evidence Retention for Sexual Assault Cases
This bill changes Georgia law to keep sexual assault evidence longer when a victim chooses not to report the crime right away.
What This Bill Does
- Amends Code Section 17-5-71 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated regarding preservation of evidence.
- Extends the retention period for evidence in cases where the victim elects not to immediately report a sexual assault.
Who It Names or Affects
- Victims of sexual assault who choose not to report the crime immediately.
- Entities responsible for preserving evidence under Code Section 17-5-71.
Terms To Know
- Code Section 17-5-71
- The specific part of Georgia state law that sets rules for keeping crime scene evidence, which this bill amends.
- Retention period
- The amount of time that physical evidence must be kept before it can be destroyed or returned.
Limits and Unknowns
- The provided text does not specify the exact number of days or years for the new retention period.
- No effective date is listed in the source material, so it is unknown when these rules would start.
- The bill status shows 'House Postponed,' indicating further legislative action may be required before final passage.