Subcommittee clarifies distribution and reports favorably on in‑home fingerprint/DNA kit bill

Sponsor Representative Pace and staff told the K–12 subcommittee that House Bill 3873 would amend existing law describing provision of in‑home inkless fingerprint/DNA kits. Pierce explained that under current practice the Office of the Attorney General coordinates kit distribution while the Department of Education supplies student counts; the amendment before the committee formalizes that arrangement and preserves the parental-request requirement.

Philip, a brief witness, told members the kits are designed to stay with parents, not be returned to schools or entered into any law‑enforcement database unless the parent later chooses to provide them to investigators. "It stays with the parents until hopefully it's never needed," Philip said.

Committee members questioned confusing draft language that at first appeared to strike and then reinsert the phrase "on request." Staff clarified the adopted amendment (amendment number 2) reinserted parental-request language, designated the Office of the Attorney General as the distributor, and required the Department of Education to provide student counts to the AG's office so the correct number of kits could be obtained.

The subcommittee voted on amendment number 2 and the clerk recorded a 10–0 roll call in favor. The bill, as amended, was then reported favorably to the full committee by a 10–0 recorded vote.

Supporters said the amendment reduces administrative confusion while keeping parental control over whether kits are used. No additional amendment was adopted at the time; the bill will advance to the full committee for further consideration.