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Lawmakers consider clarifying forensic genealogy rules after counties interpreted 'reasonable investigative leads' differently
Summary
Delegate Moon told the House Judiciary Committee that House Bill 301 would clarify Maryland law governing forensic genetic genealogy used in serious cold-case investigations; prosecutors said the bill removes ambiguity about when genealogical testing is allowed and would speed certain analyses without changing existing privacy safeguards.
The House Judiciary Committee considered House Bill 301, a measure to clarify Maryland's rules for using forensic genetic genealogy in criminal investigations. Sponsors said different local agencies have interpreted a statutory requirement that investigators exhaust "reasonable investigative leads" before seeking genealogical testing in inconsistent ways.
Delegate Ben Mo'on (transcript: "Delegate Moon") told…
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