Senate approves DNA testing bill
CAPITOL HILL The Senate has approved legislation that would give rape victims and convicted felons greater access to D-N-A testing. The bill was passed by voice vote as the Senate worked on a rare Saturday. The measure now goes to the House for minor changes to the bill it passed earlier in the week.
The bill provides an additional 350 (m) million dollars to improve legal representation in death penalty cases.
It also would ensure access to post-conviction D-N-A testing for those serving time in prison or on death row. And it would provide 755 (m) million dollars in grants over the next five years to clear the backlog of some 350-thousand untested D-N-A samples in rape evidence kits.
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