Committee approves amendment to allow non‑certified correctional officers to collect saliva for DNA testing, advances bill

The House Judiciary Committee voted to amend and advance House Bill 1044 after discussing DNA collection procedures for persons in custody.

House Bill 1044 would authorize DNA testing in certain circumstances, including permitting a correctional officer to take a saliva sample. Representative McLeod moved an amendment to delete the word “certified” from the line that described who may collect the saliva sample; Representative Wolff seconded the amendment. The committee took a roll call on the amendment and the motion carried, 13 to 0 with one member absent.

Following adoption of the amendment, Representative McLeod moved that the committee give the bill a ‘‘do pass as amended’’ recommendation; Representative Van Winkle seconded. Committee members discussed whether an emergency clause required separate action, and the chair explained how the emergency clause would affect the effective date: if the bill passed both chambers with an emergency clause and was signed by the governor, it would take effect upon filing with the secretary of state rather than on the usual Aug. 1 effective date. The committee then voted to advance the bill as amended by roll call; the motion carried 13 to 0 with one absent. Representative Johnson agreed to carry House Bill 1044.

Committee members said the deletion came in response to testimony from a witness who had appeared during the hearing. No dissenting testimony on the amendment was recorded during committee consideration.