DENVER -- A Colorado man who spent almost 10 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit urged lawmakers to pass new laws regulating DNA Wednesday.

Tim Masters told the House Judiciary Committee that he was "lucky" that the evidence that eventually cleared him was not thrown away.

Masters was convicted and then later cleared for the murder of a Fort Collins woman named Peggy Hetrick.

Lawmakers are deciding whether to enact statewide standards for the use and preservation of DNA evidence.

Many rural police agencies say they don’t have the room to store all of the evidence and need some guidelines as to how to use it.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation would take the lead role in many of the cases.

Tom Turner was one of the jurors who convicted Masters. He told the committee he was stunned to learn that there were no statewide standards for DNA collection and use.

Before testifying, Turner met briefly with Masters and told him he was sorry.

Lawmakers tabled the motion so they can fine-tune the bill to address issues dealing with the length of time material must be saved and which crimes get the highest priority.

It will likely be debated again the first week in April.