DALLAS (AP) — Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a bill that will aim to eliminate the backlog of thousands of untested rape kits in Texas.
Abbott signed the measure in Dallas on Tuesday along with four other bills designed to help victims of sex crimes.
The new law mandates law enforcement agencies conduct an audit to determine all of the untested rape kits in the state and that they set timelines for their analysis. Democratic Rep. Victoria Neave says it’s unclear how many untested rape kits exist.
Abbott says the measure will better address and provide justice for survivors of rape and sexual assault.
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It will also require that evidence be kept for at least 40 years or until the statute of limitations runs out, depending on which is longer.