Plans to speed up DNA testing in suspected rape cases are moving in the Legislature following revelations that thousands of evidence kits remain untested statewide.
On Monday, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously passed a measure (SB 636), filed by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, that would establish time limits for local agencies to submit sexual assault kits to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for testing. The vote came after a FDLE report earlier this month showed the state has more than 13,000 untested rape kits.
