Senate Bill 2779

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR DNA COLLECTION FROM PERSONS ARRESTED FOR CERTAIN CRIMES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Every person eighteen (18) years of age or older who is arrested for the commission or attempted commission of a felony shall provide a biological sample for DNA testing to jail or detention center personnel upon booking. The analysis shall be performed by the Mississippi Crime Lab or other entity designated by the Department of Public Safety, and the results shall be maintained by the Crime Lab according to standard protocols adopted for maintenance of DNA records in conformity to federal guidelines for the maintenance of such records.

(2) The clerk of the court shall notify the Crime Lab of the final disposition of criminal proceedings. If the charge for which the sample was taken is dismissed or the defendant is acquitted at trial, the Crime Lab shall destroy the sample and all records thereof, provided there is no other pending qualifying warrant or capias for an arrest or felony conviction that would require that the sample remain in the data bank.

(3) (a) Any person who, without authority, disseminates information contained in the DNA data bank shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Any person who disseminates, receives, or otherwise uses or attempts to use information in the DNA data bank, knowing that such dissemination, receipt or use is for a purpose other than as authorized by law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(c) Except as authorized by law, any person who obtains or attempts to obtain any sample for purposes of having DNA analysis performed shall be guilty of a felony.

(4) (a) Any person convicted under subsection (3)(a) shall be sentenced to a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or confinement in the county jail not to exceed thirty (30) days, or both.

(b) Any person convicted under subsection (3)(b) shall be sentenced to a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or confinement in the county jail not to exceed six (6) months, or both.

(c) Any person convicted under subsection (3)(c) shall be sentenced to a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,00.00), or commitment to the custody of the Department of Corrections not to exceed two (2) years, or both.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.