Enrolled Bill Summary

 House Bill 2703 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Public Safety director to establish by rule an accreditation process for crime laboratories, including DNA laboratories, and other entities that conduct forensic analyses of physical evidence for use in criminal proceedings. The bill also requires the director to regulate by rule DNA testing, including regulation of DNA laboratories. The bill provides that physical evidence and testimony regarding the evidence are not admissible in a criminal case if the analysis of the evidence is not performed by an accredited laboratory or entity, unless the laboratory or entity has preserved samples of physical evidence for use by the defense or the convicting court and has agreed to retain the samples until all appeals in the case are final. The bill amends the definition of "forensic analysis" to include DNA evidence and to exempt latent print examinations and certain other examinations and tests.