HB 523 wins final approval by both legislative bodies, bill to go to the Governor for signing

(Concord) – The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is pleased to announce that HB 523 a bill that will require that DNA be taken from all convicted felons has officially passed both legislative bodies. The bill now heads to Enrolled Bills for review before it will go to Governor Lynch who has committed to signing it. The passage of the bill makes Idaho the only remaining state not currently taking DNA from all convicted felons, including those convicted of certain types of sex crimes.

“The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence applauds the Senate and the House for their passage of HB523,” said Coalition Public Policy Director Amanda Grady. “This critical new law will close a loophole in our current statutes that allow certain convicted sexual predators against children to avoid having their DNA placed into our National Database. DNA collection of all convicted felons will provide law enforcement with the ability to bring individuals to justice who are responsible for crimes that would have otherwise remained unsolved. We look forward to Governor Lynch signing this bill and ensuring that New Hampshire holds its status as the safest state in the nation.”

Passage of this bill would not have been possible without powerful testimony from the families of Bonnie Craig and Kathy Lynn Gloddy. In October Karen Foster told the House Criminal Justice Committee that she credits the DNA database (CODIS) with finding Kenneth Dion, the man now charged with killing her daughter. Janet Lynn Gloddy also testified in favor of the bill when it went before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Gloddy family, who recently successfully lobbied for the passage of a bill to create a Cold Case Unit, hopes that DNA can play a role in solving the 1971 murder of their 13 year old sister Kathy.

The following agencies also testified in support of its passage: The New Hampshire Crime Lab, the Department of Safety, the Troopers Association, the Chiefs of Police Association, as well as the Attorney General’s office.