House votes to include felony arrests in DNA database

Legislation that would add felony arrests to Oklahoma's DNA database has been approved by the Oklahoma House.

Thursday, March 6th 2008, 4:52 pm

By: News 9

Associated Press

A bill requiring anyone arrested for a felony to provide a DNA sample has passed the state House of Representatives.

The bill was sent to the state Senate on a vote of 82 to 11.

Representative Lee Denney is sponsoring the bill and says the DNA of those arrested for felonies would be placed in the state's DNA database where it could be shared with state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Opponents say the bill goes too far. Representative Darrell Gilbert says he supports the goal, but is worried it would require DNA samples from people arrested for nonviolent felonies such as forgery and embezzlement.

The bill is named after University of Oklahoma student Juli Busken who was murdered in 1986. DNA evidence helped identify her killer more than eight years later.