The Florida Senate has cleared legislation aimed at increasing law enforcement capabilities to solve crimes by identifying human remains through genetic genealogy.

The bill (SB 678) heads next to the Governor for his signature. If signed, it would establish a grant program within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to help state and local agencies or medical examiner’s offices access advanced forensic technology techniques.

The bill aims to address Florida’s backlog of 19,000 cold cases, 75% of which have DNA evidence awaiting further analysis. The program would also help agencies identify at least some of the 904 unidentified human cases — 99% of the cases are suitable for forensic genetic genealogy testing. There are also more than 1,000 unsolved sexual assaults in Florida, whose investigations could also benefit.

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing effort to pursue public safety and justice in Florida. With the passing of SB 678, we’re not just adopting a new set of tools for law enforcement; we are embracing a future where technology and genetics converge to unlock cases that have remained unsolved for too long,” said House bill sponsor Rep. Adam Anderson.

“This legislation is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the victims and their families, guaranteeing that no stone is left unturned in our pursuit of justice. It embodies our collective resolve to leverage every scientific advancement at our disposal to make our communities safer and bring solace to those who have been waiting for answers.”

You can read more in an article written by Janelle Irwin Taylor and published in the floridapolitics.com web site at: https://tinyurl.com/4dxtsut6