Relating to DNA data maintained for law-enforcement purposes

SB 13 Text

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Introduced Version

Senate Bill 13 History

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Key:
Green
= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted

WEST virginia legislature
2026 regular session

FISCAL NOTE

Introduced
Senate Bill 13
By Senator Oliverio
[Introduced January 14, 2026; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §15-2B-2, §15-2B-3, §15-2B-5, §15-2B-6, §15-2B-9, and §15-2B-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to DNA that is maintained for law-enforcement purposes in West Virginia; providing updates for the policy of maintaining DNA; defining terms; requiring DNA collection from all persons convicted of felonies and certain misdemeanors; requiring DNA collection from all persons charged by indictment or information of any felony offense after a grand jury has returned an indictment or prosecution by indictment has been waived; adding qualifying offense of domestic battery; specifying testing methods; authorizing emergency rules; requiring legislative rules; specifying expungement in certain circumstances; and providing failure to expunge or reasonably delay expungement will not invalidate an identification, warrant, probable cause to arrest, or arrest based upon a database match.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 2B. DNA Data.

§15-2B-2. Policy.
(a)
It is the policy of this state to assist federal, state, and local criminal justice and law-enforcement agencies in the identification, detection, and exclusion of
individuals

persons
who are subjects of the investigation or prosecution of violent crimes, sex-related crimes, and other crimes against the person.
DNA records are an important identification tool that can be used to confirm and verify information provided by fingerprints, and to identify additional information on potential criminal activity not available through other means. DNA technology further aids the criminal justice system inasmuch as it may assist persons mistakenly accused of crimes and exonerate persons wrongfully convicted of crimes.
In furtherance of
such

that
assistance, the Legislature finds:
(1)
That the analysis of DNA contained in biological evidence that may be recovered from a crime scene facilitates
such

the
identification, detection, and exclusion;
(2)
That the comparison of DNA data recovered from a crime scene with existing DNA records maintained in a central DNA database further facilitates
such

the
identification, detection, and exclusion; and
(3)
That requiring
individuals

persons who have been indicted by a grand jury for certain offenses, who have filed a waiver of indictment for certain offenses, and persons who have been convicted of a felony offense or other certain offenses to submit to

convicted of certain crimes
to
provide a sample for
DNA analysis with the resulting eligible DNA records maintained in a central DNA database will
likewise
further facilitate the
aforementioned
identification, detection, and exclusion and may serve to discourage recidivism.
(b)
Therefore, the Legislature finds that assisting federal, state, and local criminal justice and law-enforcement agencies through the use and development of DNA analysis is of the utmost importance and urgency in this state and that a DNA identification system shall be established as described in this article.

§15-2B-3. Definitions.

As used in this article:
(1)
"CODIS" means the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Combined DNA Index System that allows the storage and exchange of DNA records submitted by federal, state, and local forensic DNA laboratories. The term "CODIS" includes the National DNA Index System administered and operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(2)
"Conviction" includes convictions by a jury or court, guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere.
(3)
"Criminal justice agency" means an agency or institution of a federal, state, or local government, other than the office of public defender, which performs as part of its principal function the apprehension, investigation, prosecution, adjudication,
incarceration
imprisonment
, supervision, or rehabilitation of criminal offenders. The Forensic Analysis Laboratory of the Marshall University Forensic Science Center is hereby designated by the Legislature and the State Police to be a criminal justice agency for purposes of the laboratory's participation in the West Virginia DNA Database with its access limited to the missing persons, relatives of missing persons, and unidentified human remains databases as part of work performed for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
(4)

"Division" means the West Virginia State Police.
(5)
"DNA" means deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is located in the nucleus of cells and provides an individual’s personal genetic blueprint. DNA encodes genetic information that is the basis of human heredity and forensic identification.
"DNA analysis" means a laboratory analysis of a DNA specimen to identify DNA characteristics and to create a DNA record.
(6)
"DNA record" means DNA identification information stored in any state DNA database pursuant to this article. The DNA record is the result obtained from DNA typing tests. The DNA record is comprised of the characteristics of a DNA sample which are of value in establishing the identity of
individuals

persons
. The results of all DNA identification tests on an
individual’s

person’s
DNA sample are also included as a "DNA record".
(7)
"DNA sample" means a tissue, fluid, or other bodily sample,
or cells collected through a buccal swab, also known as a buccal smear, that is collected from the inside of a person's cheek that is
suitable for testing provided pursuant to this article or submitted to the
division
laboratory
of the West Virginia State Police
for analysis pursuant to a criminal investigation.
(8)
"FBI" means the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(9)
"Interim plan" means the plan used currently by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for Partial Match Protocol and to be adopted under the
management
rules of this article.
(10)
"
Management
Rules" means the rules promulgated by the West Virginia State Police that define all policy and procedures in the administration of this article.
(11)
"Partial match" means that two DNA profiles, while not an exact match, share a sufficient number of characteristics to indicate the possibility of a biological relationship.
(12)
"Qualifying offense" means any
felony
offense as described in §15-2B-6 of this code or any offense requiring a person to register as a sex offender under this code or the federal law. For the purpose of this article, a person found not guilty of a qualifying offense by reason of insanity or mental disease or defect shall
be required to
provide a DNA sample in accordance with this article.
(13)
"Registering agency" means the West Virginia State Police.
(14)
"State DNA database" means all DNA identification records included in the system administered by the West Virginia State Police.

(15)
"State DNA databank" means the repository of DNA samples collected under the provisions of this article.

§15-2B-5. Authority of division to enter into cooperative agreements.

The
division

West Virginia State Police
may enter into cooperative agreements with public or private agencies or entities to provide a service or facility associated with the administration of the DNA database and databank.
In the event

When
the
division

West Virginia State Police
enters into any agreements for the purposes of: (1) Testing of offender samples for CODIS; (2) criminal paternity cases; (3) criminal casework; or (4) identification of human remains, it shall first attempt to contract with the Marshall University Forensic Science Center for
such

the
service or services.

§15-2B-6. DNA sample required for DNA analysis
upon conviction of a felony or other certain offenses

conviction
; DNA sample required
for certain prisoners

after indictment or information.

(a) A DNA sample shall be provided by a defendant who is 18 years of age or older in the following instances:
(1) After a grand jury has returned a true bill of indictment of a felony offense or any of the offenses enumerated in subsections (b), (d), and (e) of this section;
(2) After a defendant has filed a waiver of indictment with a circuit court for a felony offense of any of the offenses enumerated in subsections (b), (d), and (e) of this section; or
(3) Upon conviction of a felony offense or any of the offenses enumerated in subsections (b), (d), and (e) of this section.
Any DNA sample collected may be used only for DNA analysis as authorized by this article.
(a)

(b)
Any person convicted of an offense described in §61-2-1, §61-2-4, §61-2-7, §61-2-9, §61-2-9a (when that offense constitutes a felony), §61-2-10, §61-2-10a, §61-2-10b, §61-2-12, §61-2-14, or §61-2-14a of this code, or §61-8-12 of this code (when that offense constitutes a felony),

shall provide a DNA sample to be used for DNA analysis as described in this article.

Further,
Any person convicted of any offense described in §61-8B-1
et seq.
of this code or §61-8D-1
et seq.
of this code shall provide a DNA sample to be used for DNA analysis as authorized by this article.
(b)

(c)
Any person presently
incarcerated

imprisoned
in a state correctional facility or in jail in this state after conviction of
any offense listed in this section

a felony offense
shall provide a DNA sample to be used for purposes of DNA analysis as
described in

authorized by
this article.
(c)

(d)
Any person convicted of a violation of §61-2-5 or
§61-2-13

§61-2-28
of this code
, §61-3-1, §61-3-2, §61-3-3, §61-3-4, §61-3-5, §61-3-7, §61-3-11, §61-3-12 (when that offense constitutes a felony), or §61-3-13(a) of this code, §61-3E-3, §61-3E-4, §61-3E-5, or §61-3E-10 of this code, or §61-4-3 of this code
shall provide a DNA sample to be used for DNA analysis as
described in

authorized by
this article.
(d)

(e)
Any person convicted of
an

offense which constitutes a felony violation of the provisions of §60A-4-401 et seq. of this code; or of
an attempt to commit a violation of §61-2-1 or §61-2-14a of this code; or an attempt to commit a violation
of any offense in
§61-8B-1
et seq.
of this code shall provide a DNA sample to be used for DNA analysis as
described in

authorized by
this article.
(e)
(f)
The method of taking the DNA sample is subject to the
testing methods used by the

approval of the
West Virginia State Police Crime Lab. The DNA sample
will

shall
be collected using a postage paid DNA collection kit provided by the West Virginia State Police.
(f)

(g)
When a person required to provide a DNA sample pursuant to this section refuses to comply, the state shall apply to a circuit court for an order requiring the person to provide a DNA sample. Upon a finding of failure to comply, the circuit court shall order the person to submit to DNA testing in conformity with the provisions of this article.
(g)

(h)
The West Virginia State Police may, where not otherwise mandated, require any person convicted of a felony offense under the provisions of this code to provide a DNA sample to be used for the sole purpose of criminal identification of the convicted person who provided the sample:
Provided,
That the person is under the supervision of the criminal justice system at the time the request for the sample is made. Supervision includes
prison

state correctional facilities
, the regional jail system, parole, probation, home confinement,
a
community corrections program, and work release.
(h)

(i)

On the effective date of the amendments to this section enacted during the regular session of the Legislature in 2011
Any person required to register as a sex offender in this state and who has not already provided a DNA sample in accordance with this article shall provide a DNA sample as determined by the registration agency in consultation with the West Virginia State Police Laboratory. The registering agency is responsible for the collection and submission of the sample under this article.
(i)

(j)
When this state accepts a person from another state under any interstate compact, or under any other reciprocal agreement with any county, state, or federal agency or any other provision of law whether or not the person is confined or released, the transferred person
must

shall
submit a DNA sample, if the person was convicted of an offense in any other jurisdiction which would be considered a qualifying offense as defined in this section if committed in this state, or if the person was convicted of an equivalent offense in any other jurisdiction. The person shall provide the DNA sample in accordance with the rules of the custodial institution or supervising agency. If the transferred person has already submitted a DNA sample that can be found in the national database, the accepting agency is not required to draw a second DNA sample.
(j)

(k)
If a person convicted of a qualifying offense is released without giving a DNA sample due to an oversight or error or because of the person’s transfer from another jurisdiction, the person shall give a DNA sample for inclusion in the state DNA database after being notified of this obligation.
Any such

The
person may request a copy of the court order requiring the sample prior to the collection of the DNA sample.
(k)

(l)
Duly authorized law-enforcement employees, Regional Jail Authority employees, and Division of Corrections employees may use reasonable force in cases where an individual refuses to provide a DNA sample required under this article, and the employees are not civilly or criminally liable for the use of reasonable force in the collection of the required DNA sample.
(l)

(m)
A DNA sample obtained in accordance with the requirements of this article and its use in accordance with this chapter shall be considered to have been obtained in good faith.
Should

If
an error
be

is
determined to have occurred which caused a person's DNA to be obtained or submitted improperly, the DNA record shall be removed from CODIS and the DNA sample destroyed unless the individual has another qualifying offense or offenses.
(m)

(n)
Persons authorized to collect DNA samples
shall not be

are not
civilly or criminally liable for the collection of a DNA sample pursuant to this article if they perform these duties in good faith and in a reasonable manner according to generally accepted medical or other professional practices.

§15-2B-9. Procedures for
withdrawal of blood

collection of a
sample for DNA analysis and for conducting analysis.

(a) The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police may promulgate an emergency rule and shall propose a legislative rule pursuant to §29A-3-1
et seq.
of this code establishing the procedure that an arresting authority shall use to obtain a DNA sample.
(a)

(b)
Upon incarceration, the Division of Corrections, regional jails, and felon facilities shall ensure that the DNA sample is collected from all persons described in §15-2B-6 of this code. When any person convicted of an offense described in §15-2B-6 of this code is not
incarcerated

imprisoned
, the sheriff in the county where the person is convicted shall ensure that the DNA sample is collected from the person:
Provided,
That a DNA sample may be collected at a
prison

state correctional facility
, regional facility, or local hospital unit when so ordered by the sentencing court or other location determined by the sheriff.
(b)

(c)
The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police shall
promulgate a legislative rule

propose rules for legislative approval
pursuant to §29A-3-1
et seq.
of this code establishing which persons may withdraw blood and further establishing procedures to withdraw blood. At a minimum, these procedures shall require that when blood is withdrawn for the purpose of DNA identification testing, a previously unused and sterile needle and sterile vessel shall be used. The withdrawal shall otherwise be in strict accord with accepted medical practices and in accordance with any recognized medical procedures employing universal precautions as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No
Civil liability
attaches

does not attach
to any person when the blood was drawn according to recognized medical procedures employing the universal precautions.
No

A
person is
not
relieved of liability for negligence in the drawing of blood for purposes of DNA testing.
(c)

(d)
The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police shall
promulgate legislative rules

propose rules for legislative approval
pursuant to §29A-3-1
et seq.
of this code governing the procedures to be used in the collection of DNA samples, submission, identification, analysis, and storage of DNA samples and typing results of DNA samples submitted under this article which shall be compatible with recognized federal standards.
(d)

(e)
The agency having control, custody, or supervision of persons convicted
for

or, charged with
, qualifying offenses may, in consultation with and approval of the West Virginia State Police Laboratory, promulgate rules or policies specifying the time and manner of collection of the DNA samples as well as any other matter necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this article.
(e)

(f)
The agency or institution having custody, control, or providing supervision of persons convicted for qualifying offenses, as appropriate,
is authorized to

may
contract with third parties to provide for the collection of the DNA samples described in §15-2B-6 of this code.
(f)

(g)
A person, convicted of a qualifying offense and not
incarcerated

imprisoned
in a facility described in subsection (a) of this section, who has been put on notice of his or her obligation to provide a DNA sample and has not submitted a court ordered DNA sample at the request of a law-enforcement agency,
shall be

is
responsible for notifying the agency designated in the court order and complying with that agency's directives for submitting a DNA sample. The person
shall have

has
30 days from the receipt of the court order to comply unless there is a documented exception from the agency responsible for the DNA sample collection. A person refusing to comply with a court order directing that person submit a DNA sample may be considered in contempt.
(g)

(h)
Any court sentencing a person convicted of a qualifying offense to probation,
on or after the effective date of the amendments to this section enacted during the regular session of the Legislature in 2011
shall order, as a condition of
such

the
probation, that the convicted person report to the local sheriff's department to provide a DNA sample within 30 days.

§15-2B-11. Expungement.

(a) A person from whom a DNA sample has been taken may have the DNA profile expunged from the state and federal databases where:
(1) The criminal charge is dismissed and the prosecuting attorney determines that the charge will not be pursued further;
(2) The circuit court or jury has entered a judgment of acquittal on the charge or charges supporting the taking of the DNA sample; or
(3) The person was convicted of a misdemeanor or a lesser-included misdemeanor offense and was not otherwise convicted of a qualifying offense enumerated in §15-2B-6 of this code.
(b) A person seeking expungement pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may, at no cost, submit a written application for expungement to the circuit court of the county in which the charge supporting the taking of a DNA sample was filed. The circuit court shall by order direct the prosecuting attorney and the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police to conduct appropriate inquiries and report their findings to the circuit court within 20 judicial days of recording of the order.
(c) Within seven judicial days following any of the enumerated conditions in subsection (a) of this section occurring, the circuit court of the county in which the charge supporting the taking of the DNA sample was filed shall issue an order directing the prosecuting attorney and the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police to purge all records in their possession and all databases of the DNA records and DNA profile and destroy the DNA sample.
(d) The prosecuting attorney and the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police shall notify the circuit clerk in writing when an expungement of records and databases has been completed pursuant to this section. The circuit clerk shall provide a copy of the notice to the person from whom the DNA sample has been collected.
(a)

(e)
Any
person convicted of a qualifying offense

person
whose DNA record or profile has been included in the state database and whose DNA sample is stored in the state databank or the state's designated DNA typing, testing, and research laboratory may apply for expungement on the grounds that the qualifying conviction that resulted in the inclusion of the person's DNA record or profile in the state database or the inclusion of the person's DNA sample in the state databank has been reversed and the case dismissed. The person seeking expungement, either individually or through an attorney, may petition the court for expungement of the record. A copy of the petition for expungement shall be served on the prosecuting attorney for the judicial district in which the qualifying conviction was obtained not less than 20 days prior to the date of the hearing on the petition. A certified copy of the order reversing and dismissing the conviction shall be attached to an order of expungement.
(b)

(f)
Upon receipt of an order of expungement, the
division

West Virginia State Police
shall purge the DNA record and all other identifiable information from the state database and the DNA sample stored in the state databank covered by the order. If the
individual

person
has more than one entry in the state database and databank, then only the entry covered by the expungement order shall be deleted from the state database or databank.
(g) Any identification, warrant, probable cause to arrest, or arrest based upon a database match is not invalidated due to a failure to expunge or a reasonable delay in expunging the records.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to modify the way that DNA that is maintained for law-enforcement purposes in West Virginia.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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