DNA: Extends the deadline for post-conviction DNA testing. (8/1/24) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

This bill extends the deadline for convicted felons to request post-conviction DNA testing from August 31, 2024, to August 31, 2029. It also requires law enforcement agencies and courts to keep biological evidence preserved until that same 2029 date for cases that ended in a guilty verdict or plea as of August 15, 2001. These changes directly affect individuals seeking new DNA evidence to challenge their convictions and the agencies responsible for storing such evidence. The legislation aims to provide a longer window for reviewing past cases without altering the fundamental rules for how DNA testing applications are processed.