ATLANTA --- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation gained the power to compare crime suspects' DNA samples with a database of genetic evidence collected from 150,000 offenders and nearly 7,000 unsolved cases, under legislation Gov. Sonny Perdue signed Wednesday.

Existing law only allowed comparisons of DNA collected from incarcerated convicted offenders and certain felony probationers, which has prevented the GBI from asking whether someone investigators suspect of a crime, but have little evidence against, is tied to any other crimes.

The legislation, Senate Bill 430, was in part a response to the kidnapping and murder of Meredith Emerson, who disappeared while hiking in north Georgia on News Year's Day. With little evidence against suspect Gary Hilton, authorities held him in custody on a misdemeanor charge of skipping court, but suspected he might have been linked to other crimes in the state.

Eventually, after Mr. Hilton admitted guilt and was convicted, investigators learned his DNA did not match any other cases in the state database. However, the legislation might make a difference in future cases, GBI spokesman John Bankhead said.

"In those type of situations it is designed to have an impact," he said.

DNA samples must be obtained through a search warrant and, appeasing some privacy concerns, cannot be stored in the database after they are checked.

The GBI is close to solving about 1,000 crimes through matches of DNA samples in the database, which was created a decade ago, Mr. Bankhead said.