Pileggi Bill Gets OK To Expand DNA Testing in Law Enforcement

Men and women accused of major crimes in Pennsylvania will be ask for DNA testing upon arrest, as oppose  to after a conviction, under a bill the state Senate approved Tuesday.

Existing state law demands people who happen to be convicted of serious felonies to submit to getting a DNA sample taken by a swab on the inside of their cheek. The bill would call for DNA testing right after an arrest is produced, prior to any conviction.

The legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, which now moves towards the Home, was approved by a vote of 42-6 without debate and more than the objections of civil liberties advocates who say it is actually unconstitutional.

It also would expand the list of offenses for which testing is necessary and authorize state police to make use of modified DNA searches to assist investigators uncover unknown DNA evidence from crime scenes.

The bill would also make the list of offenses greater for which DNA testing is required and authorizes state police to make use of modified DNA searchs to assist investigators uncover unknown DNA evidence from active crime scenes.

Pileggi, R-Delaware, mentioned DNA science has advanced quickly in current years. He stated the bill would modernize the state's DNA collection and testing policies, as have the federal government and 26 other states including neighboring Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio.

The new bill would make it illegal for DNA samples from being used for purposes other than for law enforcement to identify and the instance descruption of any DNA records after suspects that may be exonerated at a later date.

Andy Hoover, legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, warned that the expanded testing are going to raise DNA testing prices and that it's going to increase the workload in the professional laboratories that manage the samples.