Bill
Bill > A06971
NY A06971
Establishes the minimum period of time that forensic samples should be retained by investigating authorities; creates the state commission for the integrity of the criminal justice system, as an independent agency, and provides for such commission's powers and duties; relates to special fictitious name indictments; relates to requests for certain DNA test comparisons; relates to forensic DNA testing; relates to claims for unjust conviction and imprisonment; relates to DNA testing, data collectio
summary
Introduced
03/18/2025
03/18/2025
In Committee
03/18/2025
03/18/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 General Assembly
Bill Summary
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the minimum period of time that forensic samples should be retained by investigating authorities; in relation to appointments to the commission on forensic science; to amend the judiciary law, in relation to creating the state commission for the integrity of the criminal justice system, as an independent agency, and providing for such commission's powers and duties; to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to special fictitious name indictments; to amend the executive law, in relation to requests for certain DNA test comparisons; to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to forensic DNA testing; to amend the court of claims act, in relation to claims for unjust conviction and imprisonment; to amend the executive law and the criminal procedure law, in relation to DNA testing, confidentiality, data collection and record keeping; to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the DNA evidence fund; in relation to establishing the innocence research project program; to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to electronic recordings of interrogations; and to amend the executive law, in relation to defining a designated offender
AI Summary
This bill establishes comprehensive reforms to forensic science, criminal justice, and DNA testing procedures in New York State. It creates a new State Commission for the Integrity of the Criminal Justice System, an independent agency with ten members from various legal and professional backgrounds, tasked with reviewing wrongful conviction cases and recommending systemic reforms. The bill expands the existing Commission on Forensic Science by increasing its membership and adding representatives like a crime victims advocate and a biomedical ethics expert. It introduces several significant provisions, including allowing special "fictitious name" indictments when a defendant's identity is established through DNA testing, establishing a DNA evidence fund to support police and crime laboratories, and creating an innocence research project program to review potentially wrongful convictions. The bill also mandates new protocols for DNA sample collection, including requiring informed consent and establishing guidelines for sample retention and destruction. Additionally, it introduces a requirement for electronic recording of custodial interrogations in felony cases, with specific rules about the admissibility of statements made during such interrogations. The bill aims to improve the integrity of the criminal justice system by providing more rigorous standards for evidence collection, testing, and preservation, while also creating mechanisms to identify and prevent potential wrongful convictions.
Committee Categories
Housing and Urban Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
referred to codes (on 03/18/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6971 |
| BillText | https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A06971&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y#A06971 |
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