Two DNA Bills are Still Alive in the Washington State House and Senate

SB 6488 - 2007-08 and HB 2713 - 2007-08 are bills that Governor Gregoire has requested. They provide for broader collection of biological samples for the DNA identification of convicted sex offenders and other persons.

What happens now is that the bills get public hearings and then the committees that the bills are in vote if the bills should go forward. There is a Fiscal Note on HB 2713 - 2007-08 so it will need to get a public hearing regarding the financial issues.

I feel these are very important bills. Here is the Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Bill SB 6488 - 2007-08:

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: Terapon Adhan, the offender
who raped and murdered Zina Linnick, had been convicted of a sex offense only a few months
prior to implementation of the law that required DNA collection for anyone convicted of a
felony sex offense. If Adhan's DNA had been collected at the time of his conviction, or later
as a result of his requirement to register as a sex offender, this tragedy could have been
prevented. The list of crimes proposed to be added to the law come from the state crime lab
and are indicators for sexual assault in the future. This law will help us get people off the
street and arrested earlier. DNA has assisted law enforcement in solving old cases. It has also
helped to exonerate individuals when they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is
not a significant privacy intrusion.

CON: We understand the rationale for collection of DNA for registered sex offenders and do
not have an objection. However, it is hard to believe that the majority of those convicted of
Assault 4 will commit another offense. A juvenile can get his or her records sealed for a
juvenile conviction, but will not be able to get his or her DNA back. It isn't fair to require them
to give up their privacy rights.

Persons Testifying: PRO: John Lane, Governor's Office; Russ Hauge, Washington
Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Sentencing Guidelines Comission; Dan Kimball,
Thurston County Sheriff; David Boerner, Sentencing Guidelines Commission; Tom McBride,
Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.
CON: Jennifer Shaw, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington.

I will keep you informed as to what is happening with these two bills.

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