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Many unsolved crimes in the Sunshine State could finally have answers through legislation Miami Lakes Republican Rep. Tom Fabricio successfully sponsored this Session.
Lawmakers unanimously passed HB 533 to require inmates who don’t already have DNA in Florida’s database to provide a sample by Sept. 30.
That’s about half Florida’s incarcerated population, said Spring Hills Republican Blaise Ingoglia, the bill’s Senate sponsor.
State law already compels individuals arrested or convicted of rape, indecent exposure, murder, robbery, kidnapping, battery, burglary, felony firearm violations and theft to submit samples.
Law enforcement officials say it leads to more than 4,500 cold case hits yearly.
– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics