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El Cajon – Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) today sent the following letter to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting that he sign Senate Bill 22, a measure by Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino), which would require law enforcement agencies and forensic labs to expedite rape kit testing:
October 1, 2019
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 22 – Request for Signature
Dear Governor Newsom:
I urge you to sign Senate Bill 22, a measure by Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino) that will finally get rid of the inexcusable backlog, and prevent future unnecessary delays, in the collection, processing, and testing of rape kit evidence.
Specifically, SB 22 will require, rather than encourage, law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories to expedite the handling, analysis, and testing of rape kits.
Victims of sexual crimes should not be further victimized by prolonged – and sometimes disastrous – delays in having key evidence in their cases reviewed.
As you know, SB 22 was approved on a unanimous vote in both the Senate and Assembly. The same was true last year on a substantially similar measure – SB 1449 – that Governor Brown unfortunately vetoed. Your signature on SB 22 will help make up for this one-year delay.
SB 22 has the support of prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and victims’ rights groups.
Again, I encourage you to sign Senate Bill 22 into law. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Brian W. Jones
Senator, District 38