SB556 - Relating to DNA data maintained for law-enforcement purposes

12 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is modify the way that DNA that is maintained for law-enforcement purposes in West Virginia. The bill provides updates for the policy of maintaining DNA. The bill requires DNA testing of all persons convicted of felonies and certain misdemeanors. The bill updates definitions. The bill adds language to further define and include qualified arrestees in the state DNA database. The bill requires testing of qualified arrestees on intake. The bill provides for testing methods. The bill authorizes emergency and requiring legislative rules. The bill specifies expungement for qualified arrestees in certain circumstances. Finally, the bill provides for failure to expunge or reasonable delay in expungement will not invalidate an identification, warrant, probable cause to arrest or arrest based upon a database match.