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Senate bill · S9585 (2025-26)

Relates to sexual offense evidence collection kit procedures

New York State Senate

Same as A10542, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Latest action Jun 5, 2026

Passed as A10542, the matching Assembly bill.

Sponsor: Andrew Gounardes (State Senator, District 26, Democratic)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 23, 2026. About our data

Summary

Requires that all sexual offense evidence shall be kept in a locked, separate and secure area for twenty years from the date of collection or until the victim's fortieth birthday, whichever is later; makes other sexual offense evidence collection kit procedures.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Public Health Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To amend the retention and destruction process of sexual offense evidence kits and create a work group to streamline processes and provide greater protection for victims.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Signed into law.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Health · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Health · New York State Senate.

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Cosponsors

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)
  • Democratic1
  • Republican1

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

The sponsor's argument

Why Andrew Gounardes says this is needed

Building on New York State's recently enacted laws in 2023 and 2026 addressing the collection, tracking and management of sexual assault evidence kits, this legislation strengthens protections for survivors of sexual assault. Specifically, for minors by extending the retention period for kits until the victim's 40th birthday, providing those affected with additional time to decide whether to submit the kit for forensic testing. This legislation safeguards the availability of sexual assault evidence kits enhancing access to reporting and testing by prohibiting the destruction of a kit at the request of a parent or guardian when the victim is a minor, a vulnerable elderly person, or an individual who is incompetent or physically disabled, ensuring that critical evidence is preserved. To ensure the modernization of the sexual offense evidence tracking system, streamline collection and testing processes, and strengthen evidence management, this legislation establishes a collaborative work- ing group between multiple agencies including the Department of Health, Office of Victim Services and Division of State Police Forensic Investi- gations Center.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Committee vote · Rules

    Senate RulesApr 7, 2026Result: passed

    (17) (0) (0) (4)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateApr 7, 2026Result: passedSenate vote on A10542, the matching Assembly bill.

    (54) (0) (0) (9)

Full history

  1. Jun 5, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR

    NY Assembly

  2. Jun 5, 2026

    Signed

    SIGNED CHAP.125

    NY Assembly

  3. Apr 7, 2026

    3RD Reading CAL.689

    3RD READING CAL.689

    NY Senate

  4. Apr 7, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  5. Apr 7, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

Show full history (9 earlier events)
  1. Apr 7, 2026

    Substituted

    SUBSTITUTED FOR S9585

    NY Senate

  2. Mar 30, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO SENATE

    NY Assembly

  3. Mar 30, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  4. Mar 30, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HEALTH

    NY Senate

  5. Mar 26, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading CAL.341

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.341

    NY Assembly

  6. Mar 26, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HEALTH

    NY Senate

  7. Mar 26, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED

    NY Assembly

  8. Mar 17, 2026

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

    NY Assembly

  9. Mar 11, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HEALTH

    NY Assembly

Read the record