In an effort to speed up the testing of DNA samples at the state crime labs, the Legislature's budget committee tonight approved funding for 31 additional analysts and lab workers.
That goes beyond Governor Jim Doyle's proposal to add 15 but is in line with what Republican Attorney General JB Van Hollen said would be enough to eliminate the backlog by 2010.
The proposal now goes to the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-led Assembly for their consideration.
A spokesman for the governor says he supports the additional analysts and will sign the bill if it gets to his desk.
The bill advanced out of the Joint Finance Committee on a unanimous 16-to-0 vote.
Under the proposal, 15 lab workers would be added immediately, with money for another 16 coming after July 1st.
AP
