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S1034Senate2025-2026 SessionSame asA6885

Unify and Expunge DNA Records

Official title

“Relates to the establishment of a single computerized state DNA identification index and requires municipalities to expunge any DNA record stored in a municipal DNA identification index”

Sponsor Brad Hoylman-SigalSD-47+16 co-sponsorsAffects Technology
Status
In Senate Committee
Internet And Technology
Impact
8/10
Significant
Passage
35%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Internet And Technology

What's happening

This bill requires all DNA identification records in New York to be stored in a single state database and mandates municipalities expunge any local DNA records.

Why it matters

  1. Centralizes all DNA identification records at the state level, eliminating local DNA databases. This means law enforcement across New York must use a single, statewide system, potentially improving oversight and standardization but reducing local autonomy.

  2. Mandates the expungement of any municipal or local DNA records within 90 days of the law's enactment. This could address concerns about privacy, improper retention, or misuse of genetic information by local authorities.

  3. Restricts who can be required to provide DNA samples—only “designated offenders” after conviction for certain crimes. This limits the scope of DNA collection, preventing the creation of DNA databases from arrestees, witnesses, or others not convicted of qualifying offenses.

  4. Strengthens expungement procedures for DNA records when cases are overturned, dismissed, or result in non-criminal outcomes. This ensures individuals are able to clear their DNA records if they are acquitted, pardoned, or not prosecuted, reinforcing due process and privacy protections.

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Headline styles

Unify and Expunge DNA Records

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

History

  1. 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.

A6885Assembly

Create Single DNA Database

In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Stefani Zinerman

Impact 7 · Significant27% to pass

Full text

3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

1034

2025-2026 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE (Prefiled)

January 8, 2025

Introduced by Sens. HOYLMAN-SIGAL, BAILEY, BRISPORT, BROUK, COMRIE, GIANARIS, GONZALEZ, GOUNARDES, JACKSON, KAVANAGH, KRUEGER, PARKER, PERSAUD, RAMOS, RIVERA, SALAZAR, SEPULVEDA -- 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

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD03244-01-5

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 ninety-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 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] the individual 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] the individual 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 munici- palities to expunge any DNA record stored in a municipal DNA identifica- tion index

Purpose

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 privacy.

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.

Legislative history

S.998 of 2023-2024 (Hoylman-Sigal): Died in Internet and Technology

A.1877 of 2023-2024 (Zinerman): Died in Codes

S.1347 of 2021-2022 (Hoylman): Died in Internet and Technology

A.6124 of 2021-2022 (Zinerman): Died in codes

S.6009 of 2019-2020 (Hoylman): Died in Internet and Technology

A.7818 of 2019-2020 (Wright): Died in Codes

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.