An Act permitting familial searching and partial DNA matches in investigating certain unsolved crimes

This bill permits Massachusetts law enforcement to use familial DNA searches (looking for relatives of crime scene DNA in the state database) and partial DNA matches (when DNA suggests a relative but isn't an exact match) to investigate unsolved violent crimes like rape, homicide, and unidentified persons. It requires strict oversight: a committee must review each request to ensure standard searches failed, all leads were exhausted, and the crime meets specific criteria. The bill prohibits creating new DNA databases outside the state's main system (CODIS) and limits access to results only to investigators handling the specific case. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and the individuals whose DNA might be searched under these limited circumstances.