2000-01-21                     House Journal                      Page 1958
HB 294                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 294 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act relating to violations of an order to submit to                       
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing, to court orders and                       
conditions of parole to collect samples for DNA testing, to                    
removal of material from the DNA identification registration                   
system; and to the collection and processing of samples from                   
certain burglary perpetrators for the DNA identification registration          
system; and providing for an effective date."                                  
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance              
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
The following fiscal notes apply:                                              
                                                                               
Indeterminate fiscal note, Dept. of Administration, 1/21/00                    
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Public Safety, 1/21/00                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 18, 2000, appears              
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
Using DNA identification is an increasingly effective tool for law             
enforcement investigation.  This bill I transmit today expands the             
state's  ability  to  use  this  method  for  detecting  and  abating  the    

2000-01-21                     House Journal                      Page 1959
HB 294                                                                        
conviction of serious crimes by allowing the state to obtain DNA               
samples from convicted burglars.                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
In 1995 Alaska adopted a DNA identification registration system.  In           
this program persons convicted of most felony offenses against a               
person, and minors 16 years of age or older adjudicated delinquent for         
similar crimes, must provide a DNA sample to the Department of                 
Public Safety for testing.  Most other states in the country have a            
similar system of obtaining DNA samples from persons convicted of              
serious crimes.  Since 1995 the technology and research into the uses          
of this information has grown rapidly.  Research in other states into the      
criminal history of persons convicted of homicide and serious sexual           
assault has shown that over half the persons convicted of homicide or          
sexual assault were convicted of burglary before their convictions for         
the more serious crimes.  DNA information from burglary convictions            
would be invaluable to law enforcement in the investigation of                 
subsequent, more serious crimes against a person.                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
The bill also allows juvenile and adult correctional, probation, and           
parole officers and peace officers to collect oral DNA samples.  The           
collection technology has improved so that a simple, inexpensive, non-         
obtrusive kit allows the tested person to take an oral swab without the        
need of a medical professional.  If a blood sample is required, it would       
still be taken by a medical professional.                                      
                                                                               
                                                                               
Penalties are provided for failure to cooperate with these sample              
requests.  The bill also clarifies the procedures for removal of DNA           
material from the identification registration system, specifying that a        
court order is necessary for such removal.                                     
                                                                               
                                                                               
I urge your prompt and favorable consideration of this bill.                   
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"