Lawmakers working to pass bill proposing statewide tracking system for backlogged rape kits

PITTSBURGH — In Harrisburg sits two similar bills one in the House and the other in the Senate.

“It largely came out of a lot of the reports that we’ve been seeing for many years that rape kits aren’t being tested. There is a massive backlog of tests,” said Rep. Emily Kinkead.

In fact, Pennsylvania faced a lot of scrutiny for having over 3,000 untested kits in 2015. According to the Department of Health, that number was down to 153 in 2020 but is on the rise again.

“We did see an uptick in backlogged kits in 2021 from the report from the Department of Health. We saw a 63% increase in backlogged evidence,” said Donna Greco, with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.

To make sure none of those kits get lost in transition or forgotten, HB 1848 is proposing a statewide tracking system for all the backlogged rape kits.

“These victims deserve answers, they deserve justice, and they deserve to have their evidence processed so they can receive the justice they deserve,” said Rep. Austin Davis.

But the bill and its counterpart in the Senate are still sitting in committee. Now, some lawmakers and sexual assault survivor groups are calling for it to get voted out and onto the floor for the victims.

“This tracking system would offer some peace of mind, and the ability to log in and find out what’s happening; here is how to contact the rape crisis center, here are my rights as a crime victim,” Greco said.

Ultimately the decision is up to the Chair of the Judiciary Committee to bring the bill up, but lawmakers are hopeful it will pass with support from both sides.

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