Topeka ? People arrested on felony charges in Kansas would have to submit DNA samples that could be used to determine whether they were involved in other crimes under a bill considered Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee.

Sponsoring Rep. Pat Colloton told the committee that DNA samples already are taken from convicted felons and entered into the Kansas Bureau of Investigation database, which has some 60,000 identified DNA samples.

“The key to our bill is not just solving crimes but, perhaps of even more importance, getting sexual predators and other violent criminals off the streets before they can commit other similar crimes and harm innocent Kansans,” said Colloton, R-Leawood.

No one testified against the bill. It originally would have taken effect July 1, but it was rewritten to go on the books Jan. 1, 2008, to give the KBI time to expand its crime lab so it can handle the DNA samples of skin cells taken from inside the mouth by a swab. Currently, the lab mainly uses blood samples to create DNA profiles.

During the law’s first year, it would apply to adults arrested and juveniles taken into custody for violent felonies such as rape or murder. Once the sample was collected, it would be forwarded to the KBI to check against its database, plus samples taken in hundreds of unsolved cases.

After the first year of the law, samples would be taken in all felony cases, except driving under the influence.

If the felony arrest is dismissed, the DNA sample would be removed from the KBI system.