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S. B. No. 2789 *SS36/R1163* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Judiciary, Division B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Hopson (By Request)
SENATE BILL NO. 2789
AN ACT TO ENACT THE DNA MATCH NOTIFICATION, TRACKING, AND 1
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT; TO STATE THE PURPOSE OF THE ACT TO ENSURE THAT 2
ALL REPORTABLE DNA DATABASE MATCHES GENERATED BY ACCREDITED 3
FORENSIC LABORATORIES ARE PROMPTLY COMMUNICATED TO THE APPROPRIATE 4
ENTITIES AND RECEIVE DOCUMENTED, TIMELY FOLLOW-UP; TO DEFINE 5
TERMS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ESTABLISH AND 6
MAINTAIN A STATEWIDE AUTOMATED DNA MATCH TRACKING SYSTEM; TO 7
PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TRACKING SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE A 8
PROCEDURE UPON CONFIRMATION OF A DNA DATABASE MATCH; TO PROVIDE 9
THAT ALL INFORMATION STORED OR TRANSMITTED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE 10
HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW; AND FOR RELATED 11
PURPOSES. 12
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 13
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the 14
"DNA Match Notification, Tracking, and Accountability Act." 15
SECTION 2. The purpose of this act is to ensure that all 16
reportable DNA database matches generated by accredited forensic 17
laboratories are: 18
(a) Promptly communicated to the appropriate law 19
enforcement and prosecutorial agencies; and 20
(b) Receive documented, timely follow-up. 21
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SECTION 3. For purposes of this act, the following terms 22
have the meaning herein ascribed unless the context clearly 23
requires otherwise: 24
(a) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety. 25
(b) "DNA database match" means any confirmed 26
association reported by a crime laboratory between a DNA profile 27
from an evidentiary sample and a known individual or another 28
evidentiary sample in a government-operated DNA database, 29
including, but not limited to, CODIS or any state or local DNA 30
index. 31
(c) "Crime laboratory" means any laboratory accredited 32
to perform forensic DNA analysis for criminal justice purposes. 33
(d) "Notifying agency" means the crime laboratory 34
issuing the DNA database match notification. 35
(e) "Receiving agency" means any law enforcement, 36
prosecutorial, or investigative agency designated to receive DNA 37
match notifications under state or local procedures. 38
(f) "Tracking system" or the "automated DNA match 39
tracking system" means the electronic, centralized platform 40
established under Section 4 of this act for the recording, 41
monitoring, and reporting of DNA match notifications and 42
subsequent investigative or prosecutorial actions. 43
SECTION 4. (1) No later than one (1) year from the 44
effective date of this subsection, the Department of Public Safety 45
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shall establish and maintain a statewide automated DNA match 46
tracking system subject to appropriation by the Legislature. 47
(2) The Department may: 48
(a) Purchase a commercial off-the-shelf software system 49
for tracking, if the system meets all of the requirements of this 50
section. 51
(b) Apply for federal funding to establish and maintain 52
the tracking system. 53
(3) The tracking system shall: 54
(a) Be electronic and cloud-based; 55
(b) Receive DNA match notifications from all accredited 56
crime laboratories; 57
(c) Automatically route notifications and reminders to 58
designated receiving agencies; 59
(d) Record and timestamp subsequent actions taken by 60
receiving agencies, and flag notifications for supervisory review 61
upon missed deadlines or inactivity; 62
(e) Produce audit logs, compliance reports, and 63
performance metrics; 64
(f) Ensure data security consistent with applicable 65
privacy and information-security laws. 66
SECTION 5. (1) Upon confirmation of a DNA database match, 67
the notifying agency shall transmit an electronic notification to 68
the tracking system within ten (10) business days. 69
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(2) Receiving agencies shall review each DNA match 70
notification within five (5) business days of receipt. 71
(3) Within sixty (60) days of recording the initial match 72
review, a receiving agency must document and update in the 73
tracking system: 74
(a) Whether the match is relevant to an active 75
investigation or case; 76
(b) Investigative or prosecutorial actions taken; and 77
(c) Closure or declination decisions and the rationale 78
for such decisions. 79
SECTION 6. (1) All law enforcement and prosecutorial 80
agencies in the state that submit DNA evidence to an accredited 81
crime lab in this state shall participate in the tracking system 82
as a requirement of submitting DNA evidence. 83
(2) Each receiving agency shall designate a supervisory 84
official responsible for ensuring timely updates and addressing 85
overdue or incomplete follow-ups. 86
(3) The department shall: 87
(a) Publish an annual report containing: 88
(i) Total number of DNA database matches; 89
(ii) Average time from notification to first 90
recorded action; 91
(iii) Number of overdue or unaddressed 92
notifications; and 93
(iv) Recommendations for improving performance; 94
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ST: DNA Match Notification, Tracking, and
Accountability Act; enact.
(b) Promulgate rules and regulations effectuate the 95
purposes of this act; and 96
(c) Provide training for laboratory, law enforcement, 97
and prosecutorial personnel 98
SECTION 7. (1) All information stored or transmitted under 99
this act shall be handled in accordance with applicable federal, 100
state, and local privacy laws, including, but not limited to, 101
limitations on dissemination of DNA information. 102
(2) Access to the tracking system shall be limited to 103
authorized personnel. 104
(3) The tracking system shall serve only as a resource for 105
coordinated criminal justice response purposes. Notwithstanding 106
any other provision of law or court rule, information entered into 107
the tracking system shall not serve as an official status of the 108
case and shall not be admissible in a criminal proceeding. 109
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from 110
and after July 1, 2026. 111