DENVER—State lawmakers are considering modifying some of the changes they made regarding DNA evidence last year.
The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously backed a bill on Monday that would reduce the number of cases in which DNA evidence would have to be preserved.
For example, House Bill 1121 would no longer require DNA evidence from non-sexual misdemeanor or juvenile cases to be preserved.
Lawmakers passed a bill last year requiring DNA evidence be preserved in all cases where a defendant is sentenced to life in prison. The bill followed a Denver Post investigation that found police had lost tens of thousands of DNA samples across the country. Until then, investigators had no legal responsibility to hold onto DNA evidence.
The bill now heads to the full Senate. The House has passed it.
