USA - Texas. The Senate unanimously passed SB 1292, a DNA-testing proposal seeking to prevent wrongful convictions

The Texas Senate today unanimously passed SB 1292, a DNA-testing proposal seeking to prevent wrongful convictions and costly delays to state executions. SB 1292 requires the state to pay for all biological evidence to be collected and DNA tested prior to a trial in cases where the defendant could receive the death penalty. "We know that, sometimes, we get the wrong person," said Democrat Sen. Rodney Ellis, who partnered with Attorney General Greg Abbott to write the legislation. “SB 1292 will ensure we avoid both the possibility of the wrong person serving years on death row and the far worse specter of putting to death an innocent person." The bill now heads to the House.