New Jersey A 5045: Concerns investigative genetic genealogy; appropriates $500,000.

Bill Text

A5045 

ASSEMBLY, No. 5045 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED MAY 11, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� MICHAEL VENEZIA

District 34 (Essex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Concerns investigative genetic genealogy; 
appropriates $500,000. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning investigative genetic genealogy, 
supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� a. �As used in this act:

���� �Accessible genetic genealogy 
database� means a consumer or private genetic genealogy database where users 
upload their genetic data and are given the option to have that data searched 
for the purposes of investigative genetic genealogy.� 

���� �Genetic genealogy database� 
means any consumer or private genetic genealogy database where users upload 
their genetic data for genealogical purposes.� 

���� �Investigating agency� means a 
State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, medical examiner�s office, 
post-conviction organization, or criminal defense attorney.� 

���� �Investigative genetic 
genealogy� means an investigative method applied to investigative genetic 
genealogy qualifying crimes, wrongful convictions, and unidentified human 
remains that uses genetic and genealogical information to establish 
relationships between individuals, leading to a hypothesis about the identity 
of an individual.�� 

���� �Investigative genetic 
genealogy center� means a center or organization that conducts investigative 
genetic genealogy and is overseen by at least one investigative genetic 
genealogy practitioner that is accredited by the Investigative Genetic 
Genealogy Accreditation Board. 

���� �Investigative genetic 
genealogy practitioner� means an individual qualified through training or 
experience to conduct investigative genetic genealogy.�� 

���� �Investigative genetic 
genealogy qualifying crime� means� murder, aggravated manslaughter, sexual 
assault or aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, terrorism, 
kidnapping, ongoing threats to the public, and any other violent crimes as 
defined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation�s Uniform Crime Reporting 
Program.� 

���� �Probative DNA� means DNA that 
is reasonably believed by law enforcement, the medical examiner, or a 
post-conviction or defense attorney to have come from the perpetrator of an 
investigative genetic genealogy qualifying crime or unidentified human remains.� 

���� �Reference tester� means an 
individual who agrees to submit the individual�s DNA for testing; an individual 
whose DNA is surreptitiously collected, tested, and submitted to one or more 
genetic genealogy databases; or an individual who agrees to upload the 
individual�s existing genetic profile to one or more genetic genealogy 
databases. 

���� �Single nucleotide 
polymorphism (SNP) DNA profile�� means a genetic profile that is suitable for 
upload to one or more genetic genealogy databases.� 

���� b.��� An investigating agency 
shall collaborate with an investigative genetic genealogy center on cases where 
investigative genetic genealogy is being utilized and shall be permitted to choose 
which investigative genetic genealogy center with which to collaborate.� The 
policies and procedures set forth by the investigative genetic genealogy center 
shall apply to all investigative genetic genealogy casework performed by the 
investigative genetic genealogy center.

���� c.���� A State, county, or 
municipal law enforcement agency may initiate investigative genetic genealogy 
for an unsolved crime if the law enforcement agency reasonably believes that 
the crime is an investigative genetic genealogy qualifying crime and probative DNA 
related to the crime is available for testing. 

���� d.��� A State, county, or 
municipal law enforcement agency or medical examiner�s office may initiate 
investigative genetic genealogy for unidentified human remains if probative DNA 
related to the remains is available for testing.

���� e.���� An individual seeking 
post-conviction relief may request investigative genetic genealogy in 
accordance with the procedures and criteria set forth in section 1 of P.L.2001, 
c.377 (C.2A:84A-32a); except that the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
subsection e. of section 1 of P.L.2001, c.377 (C.2A:84A-32a) shall not apply.� 
The cost of conducting investigative genetic genealogy shall be borne by the 
individual seeking post-conviction relief. 

���� f.���� The investigative 
genetic genealogy center performing the investigative genetic genealogy may 
coordinate or facilitate the shipment of evidentiary samples from the 
investigating agency to the appropriate laboratory. It shall be the 
responsibility of the investigating agency to ship any evidentiary samples to 
the appropriate laboratory.

���� g.��� The investigative 
genetic genealogy center shall consult with the investi