CaliforniaMissing persons: DNA testing.
What it does
Existing law requires the Department of Justice to develop a DNA database for all cases involving the report of an unidentified deceased person or a high-risk missing person and provides for the collection of DNA samples from unidentified deceased persons and from potential sources for comparison, as specified. Existing law requires that the database be funded by a $2 increase on death certificates issued by a local government agency or by the State of California. Existing law specifies the procedure for identifying the backlog of unidentified remains.
More detail
Under existing law, all samples and DNA extracted from a living person are required to be destroyed after a positive identification is made and a report is issued, except as specified.
This bill would require the DNA database be used for all cases involving the report of an unidentified person, whether living or deceased, and would delete provisions relating to the reporting of high-risk missing persons. The bill would additionally authorize the retention of DNA extracted from a living person under these provisions if the identified human remains are incomplete and there is a reasonable expectation that additional remains requiring identification may be found in the future. The bill would also make conforming changes.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 16Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 93, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Jul 16Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Jul 15Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11:15 a.m.To Governor
- Jul 2In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.Minor
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd AB2018 Ramos et al. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 5189.).Passed Senate
- Jun 30Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 29From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 16From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 3Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 5306.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2018 Ramos Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
- May 13In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 15Coauthors revised.
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Apr 7From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 7In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Mar 18In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Mar 2Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Feb 18From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
- Feb 17Read first time. To print.Introduced