OLYMPIA, Wash. -- As Washington state continues to test its backlog of sexual assault kits, lawmakers also are looking to reform how kits are managed.
A sexual assault kit is a collection of evidence gathered following a rape allegation.
One of the first hearings of the session, scheduled for Tuesday, will be on a rape kit reform bill.
A sponsor of the bill, Democratic Party Rep. Tina Orwall, says one key component is retaining the kits for 20 years and getting permission from the sexual assault survivor before destroying them.
She says it's important to preserve evidence for as long as possible.
"Trauma takes time and we want to make sure that they can come back a year, two years down the road if they decide to pursue charges -- or up to 20 -- and still have that critical evidence available," she states.
The bill also would require a statewide tracking system for kits, getting DNA from certain offenders at sentencing and making sure law enforcement collects all the evidence available, such as blood or clothing samples.
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the House Public Safety Committee.
Orwall still remembers touring evidence rooms in 2015 and seeing stacks of white boxes -kits that were untested. She says it was heartbreaking, considering that each kit represented someone who had experienced trauma and by not testing, the victim's voice had gone unheard.
"To show support to survivors is fixing the system to ensure it never happens again," Orwall stresses. "And I hear a lot from survivors and these scars don't go away. They often last a lifetime. So, we hope these changes will begin to help survivors heal."
Orwall says the hearing could also address potential storage issues for law enforcement.
According to a state report last month, Washington has tested about 3,100 of its 9,700 total untested kits.
The state is receiving federal funding to continue its work on ending the rape kit backlog.
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Women in California and across the country earn an average of 82% of what men make in the first 10 years after graduating from college, according to a new study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Researchers found that a significant portion of this disparity is attributed to where people work - three-quarters of men are employed in the private sector, compared to only half of women.
Mary Gatta is the director of research and public policy at NACE.
"The top industries where men were employed were manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, the fire industries, architecture, and engineering," said Gatta. "Women are in education, health care, social assistance, and professional and technical services. So women dominate more in lower-paid industries."
Advocates say school districts should introduce boys and girls to all types of occupations, and in particular, encourage girls to take classes in science, technology, engineering, and math.
California has tried to shrink the pay gap through public policy. Companies in the Golden State are prohibited from inquiring about a candidate's previous salary range during the hiring process.
They are also required to disclose salary ranges in job postings or upon request.
Gatta said colleges should offer robust career counseling to prepare students as they enter the workforce.
"We also need to think about salary negotiation," said Gatta, "and helping remove any concerns that recent college grads might have about negotiating, helping prepare students for salary negotiation."
She added that establishing a higher salary from the get-go pays dividends for many years.
Conversely, the pay gap persists as women progress in their careers, so they contribute less to Social Security and receive lower payments in retirement.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
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Texas lawmakers passed the Life of the Mother Act during the legislative session. It was billed as legislation to clarify when doctors in the state can legally perform an abortion.
Texas adopted one of the most restrictive abortion bans in 2021. The ban allows the procedure only if the life of the mother is in danger or there is a risk of impairment of a primary bodily function.
Houston-based OB/GYN Dr. Damla Karsan said, despite the "clarification," medical professionals are still hesitant to provide care in most cases.
"It's been frustrating, because I feel restricted in my ability to offer them the full scope of options for their care," said Karsan. "I know it's really had a chilling effect on all my colleagues, and myself as well."
Karsan was involved in two legal challenges to the abortion ban, including the case of Kate Cox.
The Houston mother of two received national attention after traveling to another state to have an abortion after it was determined her third child would not survive.
Backers of the new legislation say it ensures women who have medical emergencies can get an abortion.
It defines "life-threatening" as a condition that's capable of causing death or serious injury. A survey of OB/GYNs in the state shows 60% of those who responded fear legal repercussions.
Karsan said if women need abortion care, there are organizations available to help.
"I direct a lot of people to the National Network of Abortion Funds," said Karsan. "Their website can connect you if you want to donate, if you want to volunteer, but also if you're looking for care. As usual it's the poor, the disenfranchised that are going to suffer the most."
According to the survey, many doctors are leaving the state or going into early retirement because of the abortion ban.
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Fighting for a wide range of people with a skill for compromise, is how Rep. Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, is being remembered for following her assassination Saturday.
A civic engagement group said she was a shining example of a woman in politics. Hortman's murder is seen by political observers as a stunning and tragic example of the increasingly violent tone surrounding public office in America. Hortman served as Minnesota House Speaker from 2019 until earlier this year, leading Democrats during power-sharing negotiations with Republicans in an evenly-divided chamber.
Michelle Witte, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, said Hortman stayed true to the mission of an elected official.
"Obviously, (a) rise to power but also just being in the community working at all levels, at the local level to engage people in issues that are important to them," Witte recounted.
Witte noted Hortman's willingness to make tough decisions was on display this spring when finalizing a new budget, as she received pushback from her own party during the negotiations. Witte pointed out Minnesota still has gaps in electing women legislators, despite having more female politicians than over half the states in the U.S.
She added Hortman was among the most notable women in politics statewide, with others including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn.
In 2023, Hortman was credited for spearheading several major policies including paid medical leave, abortion protections, and a universal school meal program. While this year's power-sharing agreement with Republicans did have moments of friction, Witte said Hortman's arrangement with GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth was symbolic of women succeeding in the world of politics.
"The League of Women Voters, we actually made a card out of the great handshake between Melissa Hortman and Lisa Demuth when they reach their power-sharing agreement," Witte recalled. "I was so proud of that because that is what we really work for at the League, is seeing that working together."
Witte hopes voters pay more attention to those examples of bipartisanship and appreciate elected leaders who go above and beyond to serve the public. She acknowledged the attacks on Minnesota lawmakers may make people feel anxious about taking part in democracy, adding the country needs to promote voter safety and prevent future candidates from being silenced.
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