Provide Rape Kit Status Updates to Victims.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 367

Short Title: Provide Rape Kit Status Updates to Victims. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives von Haefen, Charles Smith, A. Jones, and Johnson-Hostler
(Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Judiciary 2, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules,
Calendar, and Operations of the House
March 12, 2025
*H367-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO GIVE RIGHT S OF INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION TO VIC TIMS 2
REGARDING SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Article 13 of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes is amended by 5
adding a new section to read: 6
"§ 15A-266.5B. Statewide sexual assault examination kit victim notification. 7
(a) Victim Right to Information. – A victim for whom a sexual assault examination kit is 8
submitted to the State Crime Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Crime Laboratory 9
pursuant to the testing protocols of G.S. 15A-266.5A shall have a right to know the current status 10
regarding the testing of the victim's sexual assault examination kit. 11
The State Crime Laboratory shall develop procedures by which victims may exercise the 12
right created under this subsection. 13
(b) Victim Right to Notification. – A victim for whom a sexual assault examination kit is 14
submitted to the State Crime Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Crime Laboratory 15
pursuant to the testing protocols of G.S. 15A-266.5A shall have a right to be notified in each of 16
the following circumstances: 17
(1) When a determination is made that the victim's sexual assault examination kit 18
is unable to be tested. 19
(2) When a decision is made not to test the victim's sexual assault examination kit 20
for a reason other than that found in subdivision (1) of this subsection. 21
(3) When a decision is made to destroy the victim's sexual assault examination 22
kit. 23
The State Crime Laboratory shall develop procedures by which victims will be notified 24
pursuant to this subsection, including the manner in which victim contact information will be 25
gathered by the State Crime Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Crime Laboratory 26
and the method or methods by which victims will be notified. It shall be the responsibility of the 27
victim to ensure that the State Crime Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Crime 28
Laboratory has the victim's required and current contact information." 29
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to sexual 30
assault examination kits submitted before, on, or after that date. 31