Nebraska Senators debate controversial DNA bill

The bill allows law enforcement to collect DNA during the booking process of those arrested for a felony.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lawmakers advanced the controversial bill, LB496, to the third and final round of debate on Thursday.

The bill allows law enforcement to collect DNA during the booking process of those arrested for a felony. Law enforcement collects the DNA during the fingerprinting process.

Senator Robert Hilkemann expressed the DNA would not be put into the system until the person is charged. People who are eventually found innocent have the opportunity to have the DNA sample destroyed.

“It’s as simple as signing a form. You do not need an attorney. It will be given to the person at the time that those charges are dropped, but the person does have to file that form yes,” said Senator Hilkemann.

During the debate, senators brought up the backlog of rape kits that are still waiting to be tested. Senators say they would like those kits to get taken care of before adding additional DNA testing.

“The backlog is there. So if there is something that we can do to help advance that, of course, we will do that, and I will look into it, that’s one of the things I will look into, I know that is a concern. If that’s the concern that some of the people have, I will certainly work with that and see if we can’t help with that,” said Senator Hilkemann.

LB496 will need to pass the final reading before it can become law. Senators can make additional changes to the bill during debate.

“I think some people are still a little confused about the bill, about what it actually does and doesn’t do. So we will be talking. If we need to make some modifications to get those, that’s the next step that I see on this bill,” said Senator Hilkemann.

Hilkemann has worked on this bill for a number of years and says he is excited to have gotten it this far in the legislative session.