What's happening
This bill establishes a single state-run DNA identification index, prohibits local DNA databases, and requires expungement of municipal DNA records.
Why it matters
Centralizes all DNA identification records. under a single, state-run system, which could strengthen statewide oversight and standardize procedures for DNA data handling and privacy protections.
Explicitly prohibits local governments and agencies from maintaining their own DNA databases. , which addresses concerns about inconsistent practices, potential misuse, or lack of transparency in decentralized, municipal DNA record systems.
Mandates the prompt expungement (within 90 days) of existing municipal DNA records. , ensuring that past locally collected genetic data is deleted, which could be particularly significant for individuals whose data was collected outside the state’s standard protocols.
Narrows the scope of who can be compelled to provide DNA samples. only “designated offenders” post-conviction are subject to inclusion in the state DNA index—potentially reducing the risk of collecting or retaining DNA from individuals not convicted of a crime, thus reinforcing privacy and civil liberties.
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Who cares
Municipal governments and local police agencies
The bill would prohibit local computerized DNA identification indexes and require expungement of records stored in them within ninety days of its effective date.
Division of Criminal Justice Services
The bill would make its computerized state DNA identification index the single authorized index and limit mandatory sample collection for inclusion to designated offenders.
People whose DNA was obtained during criminal or juvenile investigations
The bill would expand eligibility to seek expungement, including after dismissals or non-criminal outcomes, and require courts to grant applications when the specified conditions are met.
District attorneys and juvenile presentment agencies
They would receive notice of expungement applications under the expanded process, which would retain protections for investigations or prosecutions of other people.
Headline styles
Centralize State DNA Records
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to internet and technology
- Referred to internet and technology
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Centralize and Clear DNA Records
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Tremaine Wright
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6009
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Internet and Technology
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of a single computerized state DNA identification index and requiring municipalities to expunge any DNA record stored in a municipal DNA identification index
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1, 2, 3 and 9 of section 995-c of the executive law, subdivisions 1 and 2 as added by chapter 737 of the laws of 1994, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 19 of the laws of 2012, subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 as amended by section 1 of part A of chapter 55 of the laws of 2012 and subdivision 9 as amended by chapter 524 of the laws of 2002, are amended to read as follows:
1. Following the promulgation of a policy by the commission pursuant to subdivision nine of section nine hundred ninety-five-b of this article, the commissioner of criminal justice services is authorized to promulgate a plan for the establishment of a single computerized state DNA identification index within the division of criminal justice services. No county, city, town, village, or municipality, or any entity thereof, may establish or maintain a computerized DNA identification index.
2. Following the review and approval of the plan by the DNA subcommittee and the commission and the filing of such plan with the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate, the commissioner of criminal justice services is hereby authorized to establish a single computerized state DNA identification index pursuant to the provisions of this article.
3. (a) Any designated offender subsequent to conviction and sentencing for a crime specified in subdivision seven of section nine hundred nine-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11775-02-9
S. 6009 2
ty-five of this article, shall be required to provide a sample appropriate for DNA testing to determine identification characteristics specific to such person and to be included in [a] the state DNA identification index pursuant to this article.
(b) (i) In the case of a designated offender who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, such sample shall be collected by the public servant to whose custody the designated offender has been committed.
(ii) In the case of a designated offender who is sentenced to a term of probation, including a sentence of probation imposed in conjunction with a sentence of imprisonment when a sample has not already been taken, such sample shall be collected by the probation department supervising the designated offender.
(iii) In the case of a designated offender whose sentence does not include either a term of imprisonment or a term of probation, outside of the city of New York, the court shall order that a court officer take a sample or that the designated offender report to an office of the sheriff of that county, and when the designated offender does so, such sample shall be collected by the sheriff's office. Within the city of New York, the court shall order that the sample be collected by a court officer.
(iv) Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit the collection of a DNA sample from a designated offender by any court official, state or local correction official or employee, probation officer, parole officer, police officer, peace officer, other law enforcement official, or designated personnel of the division of criminal justice services who has been notified by the division of criminal justice services that such designated offender has not provided a DNA sample. Upon notification by the division of criminal justice services that a designated offender has not provided a DNA sample, such court official, state or local correction official or employee, probation officer, parole officer, police officer, peace officer or other law enforcement official, or designated personnel of the division of criminal justice services shall collect the DNA sample.
(c) No persons other than designated offenders shall be required to provide a DNA sample for inclusion in the DNA identification index.
9. (a) Upon receipt of notification of a reversal or a vacatur of a conviction, or of the granting of a pardon pursuant to article two-A of this chapter, of an individual whose DNA record has been stored in the state DNA identification index in accordance with this article by the division of criminal justice services, the DNA record shall be expunged from the state DNA identification index, and such individual may apply to the court in which the judgment of conviction was originally entered for an order directing the expungement of any DNA record and any samples, analyses, or other documents relating to the DNA testing of such individual in connection with the investigation or prosecution of the crime which resulted in the conviction that was reversed or vacated or for which the pardon was granted. A copy of such application shall be served on the district attorney and an order directing expungement may be granted if the court finds that all appeals relating to the conviction have been concluded; that such individual will not be retried, or, if a retrial has occurred, the trier of fact has rendered a verdict of complete acquittal, and that expungement will not adversely affect the investigation or prosecution of some other person or persons for the crime. The division shall, by rule or regulation, prescribe procedures to ensure that the DNA record in the state DNA identification index, and any samples, analyses, or other documents relating to such
S. 6009 3
record, whether in the possession of the division, or any law enforcement or police agency, or any forensic DNA laboratory, including any duplicates or copies thereof, at the discretion of the possessor thereof, are either destroyed or returned to such individual, or to the attorney who represented him or her at the time such reversal, vacatur or pardon, was granted. The commissioner shall also adopt by rule and regulation a procedure for the expungement in other appropriate circumstances of DNA records contained in the index.
(b) As prescribed in this paragraph, if an individual[, either voluntarily or pursuant to a warrant or order of a court,] has provided, or law enforcement has obtained, a sample for DNA testing in connection with the investigation or prosecution of a crime and (i) no criminal action against the individual relating to such crime was commenced within the period specified by section 30.10 of the criminal procedure law, or (ii) in the case of a juvenile delinquency arrest, no proceeding under article three of the family court act was commenced within the period specified by section 302.2 of the family court act; or (iii) a criminal action or a proceeding under article three of the family court act was commenced against the individual relating to such crime which resulted in a complete acquittal, dismissal, or adjudication or conviction of a non-criminal offense, or [(iii)] (iv) a criminal action against the individual relating to such crime resulted in a conviction that was subsequently reversed or vacated, or for which the individual was granted a pardon pursuant to article two-A of this chapter, such individual may apply to the supreme court, the court that had jurisdiction over the matter or the court in which the judgment of conviction was originally entered for an order directing the expungement of any DNA record and any samples, analyses, or other documents relating to the DNA testing of such individual in connection with the investigation or prosecution of such crime. A copy of such application shall be served on the district attorney or presentment agency and an order directing expungement [may] shall be granted if the court finds that the individual has satisfied the conditions of one of the subparagraphs of this paragraph; that if a judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, all appeals relating thereto have been concluded and the individual will not be retried, or, if a retrial has occurred, the trier of fact has rendered a verdict of complete acquittal, and that expungement will not adversely affect the investigation or prosecution of some other person or persons for the crime. If an order directing the expungement of any DNA record and any samples, analyses or other documents relating to the DNA testing of such individual is issued, such record and any samples, analyses, or other documents shall, at the discretion of the possessor thereof, be destroyed or returned to such individual or to the attorney who represented him or her in connection with the application for the order of expungement. Nothing in this subdivision authorizes any county, city, town, village, or municipality, or any entity thereof, to establish or maintain a computerized DNA identification index.
(c) Any DNA record stored in a DNA identification index by any county, city, town, village, or municipality, or entity thereof, must be expunged within ninety days of the effective date of this paragraph.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of a single computerized state DNA identification index and requiring municipalities to expunge any DNA record stored in a municipal DNA identification index
Purpose or general idea of bill
To clarify that the sole permanent DNA identification index authorized under New York State law is the index maintained by DJCS, and prohibit- ing local governments from establishing or maintaining any such index.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends various subdivisions of section 995-c of the Executive Law to:
- Clarify that only a single computerized state DNA identification index is authorized by law;
- Expressly prohibit any municipality from establishing or maintaining a computerized DNA identification index;
- State that no person other than a designated offender shall be required to provide a DNA sample for inclusion in the statewide DNA identification index;
- Add that DNA provided as part of an investigation is subject to expungement following dismissal of charges or non-criminal adjudication;
- Broaden jurisdiction over expungement to Family Court to address cases in which DNA is taken from individuals whose cases are brought or resolved under the Family Court Act;
- Require any DNA record currently stored in a DNA identification index by any municipality to be expunged within 90 days of the effective date of the bill.
Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.
Justification
In 2012, the New York State DNA Identification Index was expanded to include all people convicted of crimes defined in the Penal Law. In expanding the law, the State carefully weighed genetic privacy against law enforcement interests and determined that it was appropriate to require only people convicted of crimes to give up their genetic priva- cy.
Notwithstanding this careful examination and balance, cities, counties and other local law enforcement entities have established their own unregulated DNA identification indexes that permanently store and compare DNA from people who have never been convicted or even charged. The existence of local DNA identification indexes, especially in New York City, has led to a gross intrusion on the privacy rights of indi- viduals, expanding the use of DNA indexing far beyond that authorized at
the state level. As a result, New York State is among the states least protective of genetic privacy in the country.
These unregulated DNA identification indexes exist because the Executive Law, which created the State DNA identification index, does not express- ly prohibit local DNA identification indexes. Therefore, this bill clar- ifies what the Executive Law always intended; that only people convicted of crimes may have their DNA placed in a permanent, searchable DNA iden- tification index in New York State.
Prior legislative history
None, new bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.