Rape Kit Tracking Bill Discussed During PA Senate Hearing In Montco

UPPER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP, PA — State lawmakers who are pushing a proposal to create a statewide rape kit tracking system to better empower victims of sexual assault gathered for a legislative committee hearing in this Montgomery County community on Friday.

The Senate Democratic Policy Committee hosted the hearing at the Upper Providence Township Building to address Senate Bill 860, which would establish a statewide rape kit tracking system to provide sex assault victims with access to timely information and status updates regarding evidence in their cases.

The information would include where the evidence is currently being held, when it was submitted and who the victim should contact if they need additional information.

Supporters of the legislative measure say it would offer rape victims a measure of accountability and would help them "move toward justice in an effective and transparent way," State Rep. Morgan Cephas, a Philadelphia Democrat, said in a statement.

Cephas was joined at the hearing by State Sen. Katie Muth, a Democrat representing parts of Montgomery, Berks and Chester Counties, and the lawmaker who is the prime sponsor of the legislation.

"If the elected officials are serious about empowering survivors, increasing transparency, making our communities safer and fighting for justice, we must establish, implement, and enforce the use of a statewide, rape kit tracking system," Muth said in a statement. "The issues we talked about today are personal ones — for me, for our testifiers, and for so many survivors across the Commonwealth."

Companion legislation, HB 1848, has been introduced in the state House by Rep. Joanna McClinton, a Philadelphia Democrat.

The lawmakers behind the measures said the two bills would also develop an advisory committee consisting of representatives of the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office and other stakeholders who would help develop best practices for building and maintaining the rape kit tracking system.

Related: PA Lawmakers Renew Fight To Establish Rape Kit Tracking System

During last week's hearing, according to Muth's office, Donna Greco, police director for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, testified that such a statewide tracking system would help Pennsylvania continue to make "important strides in expanding the rights, options, and safety of sexual assault victims.

"It will also enable Pennsylvania to prevent and address any backlogs in evidence, which can open pathways for justice and accountability while also enhancing the safety of the Commonwealth's communities," Greco testified, according to Muth's office.

The legislators pointed out that Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 2032, now Act 70 of 2022, into law this summer, which orders the Pennsylvania State Police to identify the resources needed in order to establish the statewide rape kit tracking system and to report back to the legislative branch its findings within a year's time.

Others who testified at the committee were Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, Montgomery County Rape Crisis Center Director Mary Onama, Sgt. James Holstein of the Pennsylvania State Police, Debra Calhoun, director of the Pennsylvania State Police Scientific Services Division, and others.

In addition to Muth and Cephas, six other state lawmakers participated in the hearing — two from Montgomery County, two from Chester County and two from Allegheny County.