85R5732 LHC-D     By: Alvarado H.B. No. 1383       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to establishing a statewide electronic tracking system for   evidence of a sex offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 420,   Government Code, is amended to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER B. COLLECTION, [AND] PRESERVATION, AND TRACKING OF   EVIDENCE OF SEX OFFENSE          SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 420, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 420.034 to read as follows:          Sec. 420.034.  STATEWIDE ELECTRONIC TRACKING SYSTEM. (a)   The department, in consultation with a forensic science center   located in a county that has a population of 3.3 million or more,   shall develop and implement a statewide electronic tracking system   for evidence collected in relation to a sexual assault or other sex   offense.          (b)  The tracking system must:                (1)  track the location and status of each item of   evidence through the criminal justice process, including the   initial collection of items of evidence in a forensic medical   examination performed at a health care facility, receipt and   storage of the item of evidence at a law enforcement agency, receipt   and analysis of the item of evidence at an accredited crime   laboratory, and storage and destruction of the item of evidence   after the item is analyzed;                (2)  allow a health care facility performing a forensic   medical examination of a survivor, law enforcement agency,   accredited crime laboratory, prosecutor, or other entity providing   a chain of custody for an item of evidence to update and track the   status and location of the item; and                (3)  allow a survivor to anonymously track or receive   updates regarding the status and location of each item of evidence   collected in relation to the offense.           (c)  The department shall require participation in the   tracking system by any entity that collects evidence of a sexual   assault or other sex offense or investigates or prosecutes a sexual   assault or other sex offense for which evidence has been collected.          (d)  Records entered into the tracking system are   confidential and are not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.     Records relating to evidence tracked under the system may be   accessed only by:                (1)  the survivor from whom the evidence was collected;   or                (2)  an employee of an entity described by Subsection   (c), for purposes of updating or tracking the status or location of   an item of evidence.           SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2019, the Department   of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall require all entities   described by Section 420.034(c), Government Code, as added by this   Act, to participate in the statewide electronic tracking system   established under that section.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.