Requires district attorneys to submit sexual assault collection kits to the statewide tracking system. (8/1/26)

Senate Bill 92 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes section 15:624.1(D) to explicitly require district attorney offices to submit sexual assault collection kits and related information to the statewide sexual assault collection kit tracking system operated by the Louisiana State Police. The amendment adds district attorney offices to the list of entities mandated to participate in the tracking system, positioning them alongside law enforcement and healthcare providers as required participants. The bill removes a prior deadline of July 1, 2024, establishing August 1, 2026, as the effective date for this requirement.

District attorney offices will be required to provide all information specified by the tracking system regarding sexual assault collection kits in their custody and to fully participate in the system's operation. This requirement applies when district attorneys have custody of sexual assault collection kits, typically during the prosecution stage of sexual assault cases. The change means district attorneys can no longer opt out of the tracking system and must comply with the same participation and reporting obligations as law enforcement agencies and healthcare providers.

This amendment operates within the existing framework of R.S. 15:624.1, which established the statewide sexual assault collection kit tracking system to address issues with evidence management and processing delays. The law allows the State Police to implement the system through phased participation by region or volume to facilitate smooth entry into the system. The amendment aligns the statutory language with the intended comprehensive nature of the tracking system by explicitly naming district attorney offices, ensuring continuity of kit documentation throughout the investigation and prosecution process from law enforcement through the prosecutor's office.