Bill > SB29

This bill, known as the "Ashley Spence Act," expands the collection of DNA samples in Georgia to include individuals arrested for a "serious violent felony," which refers to specific severe crimes defined by state law. The bill clarifies that a "detention facility" is any place where adults are held for alleged or convicted violations of state laws or local ordinances. It mandates that DNA samples be collected from individuals arrested for serious violent felonies at the time of their booking or processing, and that the state will provide postage-prepaid DNA collection kits to law enforcement agencies, with all testing costs covered by Georgia. The bill also revises procedures for collecting DNA samples, specifying they should be taken by arresting officers or at processing facilities, and clarifies that a probable cause determination must be made by a judge or grand jury before a DNA sample can be taken from someone arrested without a warrant. Furthermore, it outlines updated conditions under which DNA profiles and samples can be purged from the state's DNA data bank, such as when charges are dismissed, a conviction is overturned, or charges are reduced to misdemeanors, and requires court clerks to provide the bureau with documentation of these events. The Act will take effect on July 1, 2028, contingent upon the appropriation of funds for its implementation.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69545