LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder signed numerous criminal justice bills Monday, including a package of bills that would require all persons arraigned on felony charges to give a DNA sample.

Gov. Rick Snyder

Senate Bills 105-107 are now Public Acts 457-459 of 2014 following Snyder's decision to sign the bills into law. The new laws require DNA samples to be taken at the time of arrest from any person accused of committing or attempting to commit a felony.

Previously, people accused of committing certain violent felonies were required to give DNA samples at the time of arrest. For other felonies, samples were taken after conviction.

“Collecting DNA samples at the time of arrest has proved to be an important tool in solving serial rape, murder and cold cases across the country,” Snyder said. “Collecting samples will help identify suspects earlier in the investigation process, reduce the chance of violent repeat offenders and ultimately improve public safety in Michigan.”

According to the laws signed by Snyder on Monday, the samples will only be sent for testing in cases when a person is formally charged with a crime.

The package of bills passed the Michigan Senate unanimously and passed the Michigan House of Representatives on Dec. 18, with a 92-17 vote.

The governor also signed a bill expanding the rules for getting criminal convictions expunged.



House Bill 4186, now Public Act 463, which expanded the current rules for expunging a criminal record from people under the age of 21 to all offenders. The new law allows people with one felony conviction and two misdemeanor charges to petition to clear their records five years after the individual completes his or her sentence.

The decision to actually expunge the record will remain with the court system, according to the new law.

The bill passed the Michigan legislature unanimously, going through the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate in December.

"Ultimately, this means that individuals will have a chance at having criminal offenses removed from their record, thereby giving them a second chance," said former Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes, D-Saginaw, following the bill’s passage. "That would then allow them to hopefully gain employment and even housing."

Oakes sponsored the bill, which also expanded the list of offenses that cannot be expunged from a criminal record.

All capital felonies, some domestic violence charges, stalking, causing death by explosives, swatting and certain traffic offenses like drunk driving were already ineligible for expungement. The new law adds second-degree child abuse, human trafficking, terrorism offenses, other sex crimes and domestic violence felonies for individuals who were previously convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors.

Other bills signed by Snyder on Monday include:

•Senate Bill 325, now Public Act 460, which allows Michigan courts to order parents to not take a child without consent of the other parent during child custody cases when there is evidence of risk of abduction. Sponsored by State Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, Snyder said the bill would give courts the opportunity to prevent abductions during custody proceedings.

•Senate Bill 596, now public Act 461, creates the Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board. The legislation, sponsored by State Sen. David Robertson, R=Grand Blanc, requires the board to make recommendations to lawmakers on the physical and mental health needs of human trafficking victims.

The Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board will also develop a public awareness program around human trafficking.

•Senate Bill 1049, now Public Act 462, allows police officers to carry and administer medications to people who are at risk of a narcotic overdose. The opioid medications would help mitigate heroin overdoses, Snyde said. The new law also makes police officers exempt from criminal prosecution for "administering the medications in good faith to people in need."

•House Bill 5667, now Public Act 464, allows county clerks more flexibility in deciding which approved electronic voting system to use in their area.

Kyle Feldscher is the Capitol education and MSU reporter for MLive Media Group. Reach him via email at kylefeldscher@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter at @Kyle_Feldscher. Read more stories here.