Bill of Rights for sexual assault survivors heard in Nevada Legislature

Legislation that would enact a bill of rights for sexual assault survivors faced some concerns from public defenders and law enforcement during a hearing before its first legislative panel.

Bill supporter Assemblyman Steve Yeager told lawmakers Friday there is still work to do on the bill and referenced more than a dozen conceptual amendments he has proposed.

One of those changes would extend the required retention of sexual assault evidence kits to 20 years, aligning it with the statute of limitations.

A survivor under the bill would have the right to know whether an analysis of an evidence kit yielded DNA from a defendant. John Piro with the Clark County public defender’s office says the bill brings concerns about conducting a fair trial and being able to obtain evidence.