Two Rhode Island lawmakers are continuing a push to require anyone arrested for a violent crime to submit a DNA sample to authorities.
Democratic Rep. Brian Kennedy and Republican Sen. David Bates say their legislation will help law enforcement link suspects to unsolved violent crimes. The two legislators sponsored a similar bill last year.
Twenty-four states already have similar laws.
Current state law requires DNA samples from anyone convicted of a felony. The bill would expand the law to include those arrested for murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery, molestation, some types of assault and other violent crimes.
Individuals could seek to have their samples deleted if charges are dropped or they are found not guilty.
The House and Senate judiciary committees have not yet set hearings on the legislation.
