SB471 - Maintaining DNA data for law-enforcement purposes

2 Co-Sponsors

This bill relates to DNA that is maintained for law-enforcement purposes in West Virginia. It updates the policy for maintaining DNA and definitions. The bill adds language to include qualified arrestees in the state DNA database, and requires testing of qualified arrestees on intake, as well as a DNA sample from individuals convicted of a felony on or after March 9, 1995. The bill specifies testing methods, authorizes emergency and legislative rules, specifies expungement for qualified arrestees in certain circumstances, and provides that failure to expunge or a reasonable delay in expungement will not invalidate an identification, warrant, probable cause to arrest or arrest based upon a database match.