02/22/2008 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

HJR 34 - FEDERAL FUNDING FOR DNA TESTING                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:06:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 34,  Urging the United States Congress                                                               
to reauthorize the Debbie Smith DNA backlog grant program.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:06:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CRYSTAL  KOENEMAN,  Staff  to Representative  Bob  Roses,  Alaska                                                               
State   Legislature,   stated   on   behalf   of   the   sponsor,                                                               
Representative Roses,  that HJR 34 urges  Congress to reauthorize                                                               
the  federally  funded Debbie  Smith  DNA  backlog grant  program                                                               
until FY  2014.  This  program ensures that  the deoxyribonucleic                                                               
acid (DNA) kits used to convict  the guilty and free the innocent                                                               
are processed.   In 2004, Congress passed the  grant program with                                                               
a sunset  date of  FY 2009.   In Alaska, a  backlog of  400 cases                                                               
exists.    She explained  the  packet  information that  outlines                                                               
expenditures in Alaska.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:08:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL  inquired as to where  Congress now stands                                                               
with regard to the reauthorization process.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. KOENEMAN related that Congresswoman  Carolyn Maloney from New                                                               
York has introduced a bill to reauthorize the program.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:09:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS  moved to report  HJR 34 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  HJR 34 was reported  from the                                                               
House Judiciary Standing Committee.