State lawmakers are poised this week to pass legislation that will require police in Maryland to keep rape kits for 20 years. But what to do with the kits remains a topic of considerable debate. [ . . . ] Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger called the retention bill a “common sense” reform with “minimal impact.” Most rape kits are the size of an 8-by-10-inch envelope and do not require refrigeration. More than half the states have laws mandating a minimum time period to retain evidence in sexual assault cases, according to AEquitas. The Washington-based organization offers training to prosecutors who handle cases of sexual and domestic violence.