Idaho Bills

Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to revise provisions and requirements regarding collection of DNA samples and thumbprint impressions.

This legislation serves two purposes. First, it adds certain misdemeanors to the list of crimes for which collection of a DNA sample and thumbprint impression are required. These misdemeanors, and the existing crimes for which collection is required, are listed at the proposed section 19-5502(10), Idaho Code. The misdemeanors added can be indicative of a tendency to more serious conduct, including (a) crimes which may be precursors to more violent activities, (b) crimes that may have been originally charged as felonies, but were pleaded down to misdemeanors, or (c) crimes that evidence an unwillingness to comply with existing legal constraints. Second, the legislation seeks to clarify the roles and responsibilities of offenders and government officials in the process of collecting DNA samples and thumbprint impressions. To accomplish this, it adds a new section, section19-2512, IdahoCode, whichprovidesthatatthetimeofsentencing, judgeswillordersentenced offenders to submit to collection and order certain government officials to cause the samples to be collected within a time certain. It also sets specific time frames and responsibilities for collection from other offenders who are already sentenced or entering the state pursuant to an interstate compact for supervision.