Bill Text: HI SB2615 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Forensic Identification; DNA; Expungement; Violent Crime; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-11 - Re-Referred to PSM, JDL/WAM. [SB2615 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SB2615-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2615
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO DNA COLLECTION FOR VIOLENT CRIMES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is a growing trend towards collecting DNA from persons who are arrested for felony offenses.  While every state now requires a DNA sample from persons convicted of a felony offense, many states have also considered and enacted legislation to expand the scope of their DNA database by requiring DNA sample collection from persons arrested for a felony offense.  Currently, almost thirty states, the federal government, and the Department of Defense are authorized to collect DNA samples from arrestees.

     The United States Supreme Court supports the collection of DNA samples from arrestees.  In its decision in Maryland v. King, 569 U.S.__ (2013), decided June 3, 2013, the Supreme Court held, "Upon these considerations the Court concludes that DNA identification of arrestees is a reasonable search that can be considered part of a routine booking procedure.  When officers make an arrest supported by probable cause to hold for a serious offense and they bring the suspect to the station to be detained in custody, taking and analyzing a cheek swab of the arrestee's DNA is, like fingerprinting and photographing, a legitimate police booking procedure that is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment."

     Forensic DNA testing is a vastly more precise and reliable means of human identification than other methods, including fingerprinting.  By collecting DNA from arrestees, law enforcement can definitively identify the person arrested and, in some instances, identify the perpetrator of an unsolved crime, thus assisting law enforcement investigative efforts.     The legislature further finds that all the arguments in support of the enactment of chapter 844D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are the same arguments for the enactment of legislation calling for the collection of DNA upon arrest for violent felonies:  to assure accurate identification of the arrested person; to help solve cold cases; to provide early and accurate identification of serial offenders and thereby prevent the commission of further violent crimes and protect potential victims; to exonerate the innocent and minimize wrongful incarceration; to minimize racial bias; and to reduce law enforcement investigative costs.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Mandate DNA collection from all persons arrested for the commission of a violent felony offense;

     (2)  Provide for the expungement of DNA records, in certain circumstances, when an individual is not convicted of the offense; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the costs of DNA collection, processing, storage, and expungement responsibilities.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 844D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§844D-    Arrestees subject to collection.  (a)  Any person, except for any juvenile, who is arrested for the commission or attempted commission of any felony offense involving a violent crime as defined in section 351-32 shall provide buccal swab samples and print impressions of each hand and, if required by the collecting agency's rules or internal regulations, blood specimens, required for law enforcement identification analysis.

     (b)  The person shall provide the buccal swab samples, print impressions, and blood specimens, as required by subsection (a), to the arresting authority at the time of booking or processing for the arrest, or as soon as administratively practicable by the arresting authority.

     (c)  The arresting authority shall be responsible for obtaining the buccal swab samples, print impressions, and blood specimens, as required by subsection (a), from the arrestee.

     (d)  The buccal swab samples, print impressions, and specimens may not be required if the arresting authority determines that the required samples, impressions, and specimens have previously been taken and provide an adequate record, and the arrestee's DNA profile has already been included in the state DNA database and data bank identification program."

     SECTION 3.  Section 831-3.2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§831-3.2  Expungement orders.  (a)  The attorney general, or the attorney general's duly authorized representative within the department of the attorney general, upon written application from a person arrested for, or charged with but not convicted of a crime, shall issue an expungement order annulling, canceling, and rescinding the record of arrest; provided that an expungement order shall not be issued:

     (1)  In the case of an arrest for a felony or misdemeanor where conviction has not been obtained because of bail forfeiture;

     (2)  For a period of five years after arrest or citation in the case of a petty misdemeanor or violation where conviction has not been obtained because of a bail forfeiture;

     (3)  In the case of an arrest of any person for any offense where conviction has not been obtained because the person has rendered prosecution impossible by absenting oneself from the jurisdiction;

     (4)  In the case of a person acquitted by reason of a mental or physical defect under chapter 704; and

     (5)  For a period of one year upon discharge of the defendant and dismissal of the charge against the defendant in the case of a deferred acceptance of guilty plea or nolo contendere plea, in accordance with chapter 853.

     Any person entitled to an expungement order hereunder may by written application also request return of all fingerprints or photographs taken in connection with the person's arrest.  The attorney general or the attorney general's duly authorized representative within the department of the attorney general, within 120 days after receipt of the written application, shall, when so requested, deliver, or cause to be delivered, all fingerprints or photographs of the person, unless the person has a record of conviction or is a fugitive from justice, in which case the photographs or fingerprints may be retained by the agencies holding such records.

     (b)  Upon the issuance of the expungement certificate, the person applying for the order shall be treated as not having been arrested in all respects not otherwise provided for in this section.

     (c)  Upon the issuance of the expungement order, [all] the attorney general or the attorney general's duly authorized representative within the department of the attorney general, shall deliver a copy of the order to the law enforcement authority retaining the arrest records sought to be expunged and, if the arrest records include DNA samples, specimens, and profiles obtained pursuant to section 844D-   , shall also deliver a copy of the order to the police department of the city and county of Honolulu.  All arrest records pertaining to the arrest, other than DNA samples and specimens, which are in the custody or control of any law enforcement agency of the state or any county government, and which are capable of being forwarded to the attorney general without affecting other records not pertaining to the arrest, shall be so forwarded for placement of the arrest records in a confidential file.  The police department of the city and county of Honolulu shall destroy the DNA samples and specimens pertaining to the arrest which were obtained pursuant to section 844D-   , shall expunge the DNA information from the state DNA database and databank identification program, shall ensure that the DNA information is also expunged from any other database to which the information was uploaded, and shall send written confirmation to the department of the attorney general that these expungement requirements have been complied with.

     (d)  The police department shall not be required to destroy the DNA samples and specimens, nor expunge the DNA profiles from the databases, if the person has a record of conviction or is a fugitive from justice, or has a pending court case that could result in a felony conviction.

     (e)  Any identification, warrant, probable cause to arrest, or arrest based upon a data bank match shall not be invalidated due to a failure to expunge or a delay in expunging records.

     [(d)] (f)  Records filed under subsection (c) shall not be divulged except upon inquiry by:

     (1)  A court of law or an agency thereof which is preparing a presentence investigation for the court;

     (2)  An agency of the federal or state government which is considering the subject person for a position immediately and directly affecting the national or state security; or

     (3)  A law enforcement agency acting within the scope of their duties.

Response to any other inquiry shall not be different from responses made about persons who have no arrest records.

     [(e)] (g)  The attorney general or the attorney general's duly authorized representative within the department of the attorney general shall issue to the person for whom an expungement order has been entered, a certificate stating that the order has been issued and that its effect is to annul the record of a specific arrest.  The certificate shall authorize the person to state, in response to any question or inquiry, whether or not under oath, that the person has no record regarding the specific arrest.  Such a statement shall not make the person subject to any action for perjury, civil suit, discharge from employment, or any other adverse action.

     [(f)] (h)  The meaning of the following terms as used in this section shall be as indicated:

    [(1)  "Conviction" means a final determination of guilt whether by plea of the accused in open court, by verdict of the jury or by decision of the court.

     (2)] "Arrest record" means any existing [photographic] photographs, DNA specimens or samples, DNA profiles, and fingerprint cards relating to the arrest.

     "Conviction" means a final determination of guilt whether by plea of the accused in open court, by verdict of the jury, or by decision of the court.

     "DNA" means deoxyribonucleic acid.

     [(g)] (i)  The attorney general shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purpose of this section.

     [(h)] (j)  Nothing in this section shall affect the compilation of crime statistics or information stored or disseminated as provided in chapter 846."

     SECTION 4.  Section 844D-71, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§844D-71[]]  Expungement of DNA information from state DNA database and data bank identification program.  (a)  A person whose DNA profile has been included in the state DNA database and data bank identification program pursuant to [this chapter] section 844D-31 shall have the person's DNA specimen and sample destroyed and searchable database profile expunged from the program pursuant to section 844D-72 if:

     (1)  The person has no past or present offense which qualifies that person for inclusion within the state DNA database and data bank identification program; and

     (2)  There otherwise is no legal basis for retaining the specimen or sample or searchable profile.

     (b)  A person requesting expungement of their DNA specimen, sample, and profile:

     (1)  May make a written request to have the person's specimen and sample destroyed and searchable database profile expunged from the state DNA database and data bank identification program if the underlying conviction or disposition serving as the basis for including the DNA profile has been reversed and the case dismissed; and

     (2)  Shall send a copy of the person's request to the trial court of the circuit that entered the conviction or rendered disposition in the case, to the department, and to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the person was convicted or adjudicated, with proof of service on all parties.

     (c)  A court considering a request for expungement made pursuant to this section, shall grant the request by order pursuant to section 844D-72(a) if the criteria for expungement under subsection (a) are met.

     (d)  This section shall not apply to the expungement of DNA samples, specimens, and profiles provided by arrestees pursuant to section 844D-   .  A person whose DNA profile has been included in the state DNA database and data bank identification program pursuant to section 844D-    may request an expungement of the person's DNA sample, specimen, and profile pursuant to section 831-3.2."

     SECTION 5.  Section 844D-83, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  If any employee of the department knowingly uses an arrestee or offender specimen, sample, or DNA profile collected pursuant to this chapter for other than criminal identification or exclusion purposes, or knowingly discloses DNA or other forensic identification information developed pursuant to this section to an unauthorized individual or agency for other than criminal identification or exclusion purposes or for other than the identification of missing persons, in violation of this chapter, the department shall be liable in civil damages to the donor of the DNA identification information in the amount of $5,000 for each violation, plus attorney's fees and costs.  In the event of multiple violations, total damages shall not exceed $50,000 plus attorney's fees and costs."

     SECTION 6.  Section 844D-113, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  A person commits the offense of unauthorized disclosure of DNA sample or profile if the person intentionally or knowingly, in violation of this chapter:

     (1)  Uses an arrestee or offender sample or DNA profile for other than criminal identification or exclusion purposes; or

     (2)  Discloses DNA or other forensic identification information developed pursuant to this section to an unauthorized individual or agency, for other than criminal identification or exclusion."

     SECTION 7.  Section 844D-114, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  A person commits the offense of use of DNA sample or profile for financial gain if the person, for the purpose of financial gain, intentionally or knowingly, in violation of this chapter:

     (1)  Uses an arrestee or offender sample or DNA profile for other than criminal identification or exclusion purposes; or

     (2)  Discloses DNA or other forensic identification information developed pursuant to this chapter to an unauthorized individual or entity, for other than criminal identification or exclusion purposes."

     SECTION 8.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 to cover expenses associated with DNA collection and expungement, including the training of law enforcement personnel, analysis, and the hiring of support personnel.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 9.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 10.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 11.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on January 1, 2015; provided that section 8 shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

 

Report Title:

Forensic Identification; DNA; Expungement; Violent Crime; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires persons arrested for a felony offense involving a violent crime to provide a DNA sample.  Provides for the destruction of DNA samples and expungement of a DNA database profile when appropriate.  Makes an appropriation for the costs of DNA collection, processing, storage, and expungement responsibilities.  (SD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.