May 21, 2013

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Wis. Budget Committee to Consider DNA Expansion

UPDATED, Monday May 20, 2013 -- 5:32 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin lawmakers are set this week to consider Gov. Scott Walker's plan to take DNA from anyone arrested for a felony and anyone convicted of any crime.

Wisconsin currently collects DNA only from convicted felons and sex offenders. Walker's executive budget lays out nearly $6 million for the initiative. The money largely would come from an existing $250 surcharge on felony offenders and a new $200 surcharge on misdemeanor offenders.

Twenty-five other states and the federal government take DNA upon felony arrests. Civil rights advocates, though, still see Walker's plan as an invasion of privacy.

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee is working to revise Walker's budget before forwarding it to the full Senate and Assembly. The panel is expected to review the DNA proposal Thursday.

Copyright 2013: Associated Press

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Posted Tuesday, February 12, 2013 --- 10:54 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker wants to spend $3 million to expand GPS tracking for some people on restraining orders and $6 million to collect DNA samples from everyone arrested for felonies.

The expanded DNA collection Walker is proposing would also include anyone convicted for any crime and those arrested for certain misdemeanor sexual crimes. Walker says that will result in DNA data being collected from 68,000 people a year.

Walker was touring the state with Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to discuss the $14 million in law enforcement initiatives that will be included in his budget to be released next week.

Walker is also calling for $1 million to hire five new full-time employees at the task force that works to stop Internet crimes against children.

Copyright 2013: Associated Press


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