(Springfield, IL) – March 11, 2011. An Illinois House panel yesterday approved legislation that would further harness DNA to target criminal sex offenders and other criminals by toughening mandated specimen submissions to the Illinois state police.
The House Criminal Justice Law Committee voted 7-0 to authorize the mandatory submission of blood, saliva or tissue to the state police for inclusion in its DNA data base from those arrested, after a judge or grand jury finds probable cause, for first degree murder, home invasion, child sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual assault.
The legislation, House Bill 3238, sponsored by State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago), also increases the DNA analysis fee from $200 to $250 and boosts the penalty for evading the specimen submission from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony.
In 2010, Illinois became the first state in the nation to require DNA evidence taken after a sexual assault to be DNA tested. The Sexual Assault Evidence Submissions Act, which went into effect on September 1 of 2010, requires law enforcement agencies to submit DNA evidence collected in investigations to an Illinois State Police approved laboratory within two weeks. The measure was an initiative of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Other House sponsors of Mendoza’s plan include: State Reps. Jim Sacia (R- Pecatonica), Emily McAsey (D-Lockport), Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Dennis Reboletti (R-Elmhurst), and David Reis (R-St. Marie).
The plan moves to the full House for consideration.
Gov. Pat Quinn
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