S436

An Act concerning DNA testing and amending P.L.1994, c.136.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 2 of P.L.1994, c.136 (C.53:1-20.18) is amended to read as follows:

2. The Legislature finds and declares that DNA databanks are an important tool in criminal investigations and in deterring and detecting recidivist acts. It is the policy of this State to assist federal, state and local criminal justice and law enforcement agencies in the identification and detection of individuals who are the subjects of criminal investigations. It is therefore in the best interest of the State of New Jersey to establish a DNA database and a DNA databank containing blood or other biological samples submitted by every person convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of a crime or offense. It is also in the best interest of the State of New Jersey to include in this DNA database and DNA databank blood or other biological samples submitted by juveniles adjudicated delinquent or adjudicated not delinquent by reason of insanity for acts, which if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime or offense.

(cf: P.L.2003, c.183, s.1)

2. Section 4 of P.L.1994, c.136 (C.53:1-20.20) is amended to read as follows:

4. a. On or after January 1, 1995 every person convicted of aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault under N.J.S.2C:14-2 or aggravated criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual contact under N.J.S.2C:14-3 or any attempt to commit any of these crimes and who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing upon commencement of the period of confinement.

In addition, every person convicted on or after January 1, 1995 of these offenses, but who is not sentenced to a term of confinement, shall provide a DNA sample as a condition of the sentence imposed. A person who has been convicted and incarcerated as a result of a conviction of one or more of these offenses prior to January 1, 1995 shall provide a DNA sample before parole or release from incarceration.

b. On or after January 1, 1998 every juvenile adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute aggravated sexual assault or sexual assault under N.J.S.2C:14-2 or aggravated criminal sexual contact or criminal sexual contact under N.J.S.2C:14-3, or any attempt to commit any of these crimes, shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing.

c. On or after January 1, 1998 every person found not guilty by reason of insanity of aggravated sexual assault or sexual assault under N.J.S.2C:14-2 or aggravated criminal sexual contact or criminal sexual contact under N.J.S.2C:14-3, or any attempt to commit any of these crimes, or adjudicated not delinquent by reason of insanity for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute one of these crimes, shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing.

d. On or after January 1, 2000 every person convicted of murder pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-3, manslaughter pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-4, aggravated assault of the second degree pursuant to paragraph (1) or (6) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1, kidnapping pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-1, luring or enticing a child in violation of P.L.1993, c.291 (C.2C:13-6), engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of a child pursuant to N.J.S.2C:24-4, or any attempt to commit any of these crimes and who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing upon commencement of the period of confinement.

In addition, every person convicted on or after January 1, 2000 of these offenses, but who is not sentenced to a term of confinement, shall provide a DNA sample as a condition of the sentence imposed. A person who has been convicted and incarcerated as a result of a conviction of one or more of these offenses prior to January 1, 2000 shall provide a DNA sample before parole or release from incarceration.

e. On or after January 1, 2000 every juvenile adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute murder pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-3, manslaughter pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-4, aggravated assault of the second degree pursuant to paragraph (1) or (6) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1, kidnapping pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-1, luring or enticing a child in violation of P.L.1993, c.291 (C.2C:13-6), engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of a child pursuant to N.J.S.2C:24-4, or any attempt to commit any of these crimes, shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing.

f. On or after January 1, 2000 every person found not guilty by reason of insanity of murder pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-3, manslaughter pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-4, aggravated assault of the second degree pursuant to paragraph (1) or (6) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1, kidnapping pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-1, luring or enticing a child in violation of P.L.1993, c.291 (C.2C:13-6), engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the
morals of a child pursuant to N.J.S.2C:24-4, or any attempt to commit any of these crimes, or adjudicated not delinquent by reason of insanity for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute one of these crimes, shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing.

g. Every person convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of a crime or disorderly persons offense shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing. If the person is sentenced to a term of imprisonment or confinement, the person shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing upon commencement of the period of imprisonment or confinement. If the person is not sentenced to a term of imprisonment or confinement, the person shall provide a DNA sample as a condition of the sentence imposed. A person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of a crime prior to the effective date of P.L.2003, c.183 or of a disorderly persons offense prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and who, on the effective date, is serving a sentence of imprisonment, probation, parole or other form of supervision as a result of the crime or is confined following acquittal by reason of insanity shall provide a DNA sample before termination of imprisonment, probation, parole, supervision or confinement, as the case may be.

h. Every juvenile adjudicated delinquent, or adjudicated not delinquent by reason of insanity, for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime or disorderly persons offense shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing. If under the order of disposition the juvenile is sentenced to some form of imprisonment, detention or confinement, the juvenile shall have a blood sample drawn or other biological sample collected for purposes of DNA testing upon commencement of the period of imprisonment, detention or confinement. If the order of disposition does not include some form of imprisonment, detention or confinement, the juvenile shall provide a DNA sample as a condition of the disposition ordered by the court. A juvenile who, prior to the effective date of P.L.2003, c.183, has been adjudicated delinquent, or adjudicated not delinquent by reason of insanity for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime or, prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), has been adjudicated delinquent, or adjudicated not delinquent by reason of insanity for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a disorderly persons offense, and who on the effective date is under some form of imprisonment, detention, confinement, probation, parole or any other form of supervision as a result of the offense or is confined following an adjudication of not delinquent by reason of insanity shall provide a DNA sample before termination of imprisonment, detention, supervision or confinement, as the case may be.

i. Nothing in this act shall be deemed to limit or preclude collection of DNA samples as authorized by court order or in accordance with any other law.

(cf: P.L.2003, c.183, s.3)

3. Section 6 of P.L.1994, c.136 (C.53:1-20.22) is amended to read as follows:

6. a. Each blood sample required to be drawn or biological sample collected pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1994, c.136 (C.53:1-20.20) from persons who are incarcerated shall be drawn or collected at the place of incarceration. DNA samples from persons who are not sentenced to a term of confinement shall be drawn or collected at a prison or jail unit to be specified by the sentencing court. DNA samples from persons who are adjudicated delinquent shall be drawn or collected at a prison or jail identification and classification bureau specified by the family court.

b. Only a correctional health nurse technician, physician, registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, laboratory or medical technician, phlebotomist or other health care worker with phlebotomy training shall draw any blood sample to be submitted for analysis, and only a correctional health nurse technician, physician, registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, laboratory or medical technician or person who has received biological sample collection training in accordance with protocols adopted by the Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Corrections, shall collect or supervise the collection of any other biological sample to be submitted for analysis. No civil liability shall attach to any person authorized to draw blood or collect a biological sample by this section as a result of drawing blood or collecting the sample from any person if the blood was drawn or sample collected according to recognized medical procedures. No person shall be relieved from liability for negligence in the drawing or collecting of any DNA sample. No sample shall be drawn or collected pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1994, c.136 (C.53:1-20.20) if the division has previously received a blood or biological sample from the convicted person or the juvenile adjudicated delinquent which was adequate for successful analysis and identification.

c. A person or juvenile who refuses to allow a blood sample to be drawn or a biological sample to be collected is guilty of crime of the fourth degree.

(cf: P.L.2003, c.183, s.5)

4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the 18th month following enactment, but the Attorney General and the Superintendent of State Police may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill would expand the State's DNA database to also include DNA samples from persons convicted of disorderly persons offenses.

The "DNA Database and Databank Act of 1994," P.L.1994, c.136 (C.53:1-20.17 et seq.), was amended by P.L.2003, c.183 to expand the DNA database to include blood or biological samples from adults and juveniles found guilty of, adjudicated delinquent for, or found not guilty by reason of insanity of a crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree. Prior to this law, the database contained DNA samples from these persons if they were convicted of, adjudicated delinquent for or found not guilty by reason of insanity of certain violent crimes, such as murder, manslaughter and kidnapping and sex offenses.

Under this bill, DNA samples also would be taken from adults and juveniles convicted of disorderly persons offenses. The sample would be obtained upon imprisonment or, if the person is not sentenced to imprisonment, as a condition of the sentence. Persons imprisoned or on parole or probation for a disorderly persons offense when the law becomes effective also would have to provide a sample.

The bill also establishes that a person who refuses to submit a blood or biological sample is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Fourth degree crimes are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.