HARRISBURG — State senators are trying again to widen DNA sampling from suspects accused of certain crimes, passing a bill for the third time in four years Monday to expand the state’s existing sampling and storage of DNA.

The Senate approved the bill 33-14 and sent it to the House of Representatives, which has had different ideas on the subject since the Senate first passed a bill to expand the program in 2011. The bill has the support of law enforcement groups, including the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, but the American Civil Liberties Union opposes it.

The sponsor, Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, said the bill would help investigators solve and prevent crimes.

“It’s much more valuable if the sample is taken post-arrest, pre-conviction, rather than waiting for the time necessary to get through the post-conviction process, and that’s been the experience in other states,” Pileggi said.

Current state law requires people convicted of serious felonies or certain misdemeanors to submit DNA samples. Under Pileggi’s bill, DNA samples would be required after an arrest is made but prior to any conviction. It also would expand the list of offenses for which testing is required, including simple assault and trespassing.