Amended DNA Bill in Maryland Tentatively Approved
Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 07:42PM 
Legislation to significantly expand Maryland's DNA database to include samples collected from people charged with violent crimes and burglary advanced in the General Assembly yesterday, but only after lawmakers adopted amendments reflecting a compromise between Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Legislative Black Caucus.
After debate, the House of Delegates gave preliminary approval to the amended legislation, paving the way for the bill's passage as soon as today. If passed, the bill would move to the Senate, where legislative leaders are preparing to adopt the amended language agreed on in the House.
One amendment to O'Malley's proposal would require that DNA samples of suspects who are arrested but exonerated be automatically destroyed. Under the initial proposal, such samples would have remained in the state's database.
Another amendment would mandate stricter regulations on how DNA samples are collected at crime scenes. The bill covers such violent crimes as abduction, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, rape, carjacking and assault.
The legislation is a top priority for O'Malley (D), who has said that using technology to collect more "modern-day fingerprints" could help solve more cold cases and exonerate people wrongfully accused of crimes. Currently, only convicted felons are required to submit a sample for the state's DNA database.
The bill has been backed by the state's top prosecutors, including Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D), who strolled through the House talking with delegates shortly before the floor debate.
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