A watered-down version of a controversial bill to expand DNA collections was approved late Thursday night by the state House of Representatives.
The original version of the bill had called for DNA to be collected from all those arrested - but not convicted - of a serious felony. Now, the collection would not be made until the person was arrested for a second crime and had already been convicted for a previous crime.
In a vote about five minutes before midnight, the House voted 127 to 20 to pass the measure, which now goes to the Democratic-controlled state Senate.
Currently, DNA is taken upon conviction - not arrest - of a felony. But criminals who were convicted before 2004 did not have their DNA collected, and there would be no sample in the state's databank.
"It will establish the innocence of people who might be falsely accused,'' said Rep. John Hetherington, a New Canaan Republican. "I would strongly urge its adoption.''
He said it was an example of the way the process should work because it was an overall compromise to get the measure passed.
Rep. T. R. Rowe, a Trumbull attorney, said, "I'm pleased it's been tightened up ... and good for all parties.''
Rep. Debralee Hovey, a Monroe Republican, said there must be a second serious felony arrest before a person's DNA would be taken.
"In my mind, this is one felony too many to be convicted,'' Hovey said, adding that a person who has been arrested two times for felonies has likely committed other crimes and has not been caught.
"You have to have been convicted of a previous felony to have your DNA taken when you are arrested on a serious felony,'' said Rep. Ernie Hewett, a New London Democrat who was the bill's chief proponent and studied the issue extensively.