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Committee advances bill to flag driver records after CODIS hits, fund database positions
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Summary
Senate Bill 151 would let law enforcement flag driver's licenses and create database coordination to clear CODIS hits and missed DNA collections; Louisiana State Police testified the state has thousands of outstanding hits and needs personnel to manage follow-up.
The Transportation Committee advanced SB 151, a measure focused on improving how forensic DNA hits are handled across law-enforcement agencies. Sponsor Sen. Meisel said the bill would authorize mechanisms—potentially including driver's-license flagging—to notify officers when a CODIS match requires a reference DNA sample or further follow-up.
Captain Chad Guidry of the Louisiana State Police testified the crime lab currently submits DNA profiles to CODIS and notifies an investigative agency of matches, but broader follow-up is inconsistent. Guidry said the lab’s initial assessment counted roughly 3,000 CODIS hits statewide and that since 2003 more than 100,000 people may owe a required DNA profile. He described grant-funded positions (SACI grant) and the bill’s fiscal note to convert three grant-funded jobs into permanent positions to manage the database and coordinate across local booking agencies and regional crime labs.
Committee members questioned the difference between MILPER guidance and Army regulations during an earlier license-plate bill discussion; here they probed resources, scope and due-process protections for any flagging system. Guidry said rulemaking would be required if the bill passes and emphasized the need to coordinate with six regional crime labs and local booking facilities. Senators moved and the committee reported SB 151 favorably without objection.
The measure seeks to reduce case backlogs and enable timely collection of reference samples, which the sponsor and witnesses said could help clear cold cases and aid active investigations.
