H1987 • 2025

An Act to establish a DNA exception rule for victims of rape

Crime

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Scanlon, Adam J.
Last action: 2025-10-20
Official status: Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to establish a DNA exception rule for victims of rape

An Act to establish a DNA exception rule for victims of rape By Representatives Scanlon of North Attleborough and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act to establish a DNA exception rule for victims of rape By Representatives Scanlon of North Attleborough and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
1987) of Adam J.
Scanlon, Hannah Kane and others relative to the statute of limitations for the crime of rape and establishing a DNA exception rule.
The Judiciary.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-10-20 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2025-09-25 House
Accompanied a new draft, see H4536
2025-06-11 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to establish a DNA exception rule for victims of rape
By Representatives Scanlon of North Attleborough and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1987) of Adam J. Scanlon, Hannah Kane and others relative to the statute of limitations for the crime of rape and establishing a DNA exception rule. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

×

Bill H.1987

SECTION 1. Section 97B ½ of chapter 41 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 20, after the word “cases” the following words:- ; provided, however, that all kits shall be retained for no less than 15 years.

SECTION 2. Said section 97B ½ of said chapter 41 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 26, after the word “enforcement” the following words:- , notwithstanding the statute of limitations of the underlying offense.

SECTION 3. Section 63 of chapter 277 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the sixth sentence the following sentence:-

Notwithstanding the above, an indictment or complaint for an offense set forth in sections 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 23, 23A or 23B of chapter 265 may be found and filed at any time after the date of the commission of such offense if the identity of the person who allegedly committed the offense: (1) was identified after the limitation period set forth in this section; and (2) the identity has been established through a DNA record, as defined in section 1 of chapter 22E, using evidence collected at the time of the commission of the offense.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close