Calling Colorado’s long turnaround times to process sexual assault evidence kits “simply unacceptable,” Gov. Jared Polis signed a law Tuesday that creates a new review board and will require crime labs to “endeavor” to reach a 60-day testing target for the kits.

Lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 304 after they heard testimony in January that sexual assault victims were waiting more than 500 days for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to process their forensic exams, commonly known as rape kits.

The new law creates the Colorado Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board in the attorney general’s office and requires it to make annual reports to the General Assembly. It also requires law enforcement to update sexual assault victims every 90 days if their forensic kit has not

See Full Page