A 954 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Imposes time constraints on submission and analysis of rape kits.

New Jersey's bill A 954, the "Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act," requires law enforcement agencies to submit sexual assault forensic evidence (commonly called a "rape kit") to a designated lab within 10 business days of receipt. It mandates that labs analyze the evidence within six months of receipt, if staffing and resources allow, and establishes deadlines for agencies to report unsubmitted backlog cases (within 45 days) and arrange submission of past cases (within 180 days). Agencies must also submit a detailed analysis plan to state leaders within 120 days, including resource needs. Violations by officers incur civil penalties ($1,000-$5,000 per incident), though reasonable efforts to comply are exempt. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and forensic labs handling sexual assault cases in New Jersey.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026