Rochester, N.Y. - DNA has helped solve crimes years after they happened.
New York wants to expand its DNA databank so it can keep track of criminals and possibly link them to other unsolved crimes.
Right now all felons and some people convicted of misdemeanors are required to share a DNA sample.
But lawmakers want everyone convicted of any felony or any misdemeanor crime to submit DNA.
The 1993 murder of Karen Turtu went unsolved for 14 years.
Turtu's body was found in a snow bank behind a Rochester restaurant.
Her mother was thankful that DNA eventually solved her daughter's murder.
"It was a sense of relief because we knew who the person was…it didn't bring her back, at least you had a face," said Betsy McCade, Karen's mother.
But some people in the legal community worry that sharing DNA could be a slippery slope.
"There's no doubt DNA can be helpful and beneficial but is the infringement on people's civil liberties worth it?" asked defense attorney Brian DeCarolis.
He hopes the justice system finds a balance.
"My hope would be that if they're going to put forth this legislation that would allow defense attorneys and attorneys with far more access to the ability to say, 'hey test this' to not only convict them and exonerate them as well," DeCarolis added.
Lt. Governor Roberty Duffy said expanding the DNA databank is a win-win, not only convicting criminals but proving innocence.
"As a former police officer I can't imagine someone sitting in prison for 20 to 30 years wrongfully convicted for something they didn't do," Duffy said.
The State Senate approved the bill.
The Assembly votes on it next.
