Bills can move quickly in the lame duck session of the legislature. That was the case with a bill that was pulled from consideration by lawmakers last week, but passed both chambers unanimously today.
The Republican-sponsored bill requires the Attorney General to create a statewide tracking system for rape kits. In the House, Democratic Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) spoke for it.
“This bill, House Bill 719, will help us make sure that justice delayed is not justice denied," Smith said.
The vote marked an apparent deal with Democrats, who last week wanted to attach an amendment to eliminate the 20-year statute of limitations on rape cases.
That led Ohio House Speaker Ryan Smith to pull the rape kit bill, saying he was open to discussing that idea but the amendment wasn’t appropriate in this bill. A similar bill also passed the Ohio Senate Wednesday afternoon.
