DNA bill finds growing support (Wisconsin)

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Madison — A bill to have DNA taken from accused felony offenders upon arrest instead of conviction is gaining momentum in the Assembly but has not received the endorsement of the state's top law enforcement official.

Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is concerned about the $6.4 million the bill would cost in its first year and said officials must think very carefully about whether the bill infringes too much on civil liberties.

"The biggest problem that I see is that there are a lot of things we could do to benefit public safety, but we have to find the resources to do those things," he said. "If we are going to start collecting DNA at the time of arrest, it is going to require the Legislature to cut spending somewhere else to come up with the resources we need to fund this initiative."

Rep. Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake) and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) introduced their DNA bill in October after officials reported the state hadn't taken DNA samples from about 12,000 felons it should have. The problem was discovered during the investigation of suspected Milwaukee serial killer Walter E. Ellis, whose DNA should have been taken when he was in prison in 2001 but wasn't.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle has endorsed the idea, and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) said recently that he likes the plan but wants to study it more.

"It's another issue I have to understand better but, shooting from the hip, I am supportive of it because I know we can save a lot of heartache in this country," Sheridan said. "But I also know the devil's in the details, so I definitely want to get more information before making final decisions."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/80148687.html