HI HB2253

Limits post-conviction biological evidence retention requirements to serious felony cases (murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, sexual assault in the first and second degree, assault in the first degree, and attempts/conspiracies to commit these offenses) where the defendant's identity as perpetrator was contested.

Requires evidence to be retained only until the later of: exhaustion of all appeals or completion of the defendant's sentence including probation or parole.

Allows early disposal of evidence if the court determines the defendant's identity was not contested or the evidence lacks biological material useful for DNA analysis to establish or exclude the perpetrator.

Establishes a notification and objection process requiring service on defendants (personally or by mail), their attorneys, and parole/probation officers, with a 90-day window for defendants to file written objections to proposed evidence disposal.

Defines "biological evidence" as blood, semen, hair, saliva, skin tissue, fingernail scrapings, teeth, bone, bodily fluids, and sexual assault examination kit contents.