The Senate is debating legislation that would force anyone who was arrested to submit a DNA sample.
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LANSING -- The Senate is debating a bill that would expand current DNA testing requirements in Michigan.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker last week, would require people arrested for committing or attempting to commit a felony to provide a DNA sample.
It has been sent to the Judiciary Committee for debate.
DNA samples are now taken at the time of arrest only when people are arrested for violent felonies, such as murder. The new legislation would make DNA testing the same as fingerprint collection.
If the person is found not guilty, or if the charges are dropped, the sample would then be destroyed.
In 2011, Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation requiring all prisoners to submit a DNA test within three months of being incarcerated.
DNA evidence has become more and more useful in identifying or eliminating suspects when biological tissues like saliva, blood, skin, hair or semen are left at a crime scene.
While DNA testing has been challenged in court several times, it is now admitted in all U.S. courts.
