It isn’t very often a bill at the State Legislature affects so many Arizonan’s civil rights in such an onerous manner.
Senate Bill 1475 is such a bill. Read it for yourself, but make sure you brace yourself first. Senator David Livingston (LD 22) is the sponsor of this bill.
- Here are a few highlights:
• DPS (Department of Public Safety) is required to establish a DNA data base
• The DNA must be associated with person’s name, date of birth, last known address, and Social Security Number
• An Ombudsman at DPS will investigate and decide if complaints are to be responded to if someone claims their DNA is incorrect or used in an unauthorized manner
• DNA will be collected from:
• Anyone who by law is required to submit fingerprints as part of an application for licensure , certification or permit or renewal of a license
• A person whose employment or position requires fingerprinting
• A person who volunteers or is employed by a law enforcement agency
• A person who required for any reason to submit fingerprints
• A deceased person
• A person who is ordered by the court to submit DNA for purposes of verifying familial relationships.
• The person submitting the DNA must pay up to $250.00 at time of DNA submission
The bill goes on to say the DNA data base must be kept separate from any database that is kept for criminal justice purposes, but later it states law enforcement may search the DNA data base for criminal justice purposes which include investigations and custodial facilities management.
The DNA in the database may be used to match DNA in other databases and shared with other governmental entities. It can be released for research studies.
After you get over the initial shock of what this means to your life, start thinking about the overwhelming change in our system and founding principles.
Today (2/11/19), AAR took a position of officially opposing this legislation.
Senator Livingston, you and I would do well to read Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man”. His premise is as true today as it was 250 years ago: Man is given natural rights as part of his existence. He does not join a society or form a government in order to lose those rights.