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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Forensic Science Academy |
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as a program of the Texas Engineering Extension Service of The Texas |
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A&M University System. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter K to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS FORENSIC SCIENCE ACADEMY |
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Sec. 88.821. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "academy" |
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means the Texas Forensic Science Academy. |
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Sec. 88.822. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACADEMY. The Texas Forensic |
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Science Academy is established as a law enforcement extension |
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training program of the Texas Engineering Extension Service. |
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Sec. 88.823. PURPOSES OF ACADEMY. The purposes of the |
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academy are to: |
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(1) support the need for trained state and local law |
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enforcement personnel, prosecutors, public defenders, and judges |
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in the criminal justice system of this state; and |
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(2) achieve accuracy and equity in the criminal |
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justice system of this state. |
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Sec. 88.824. DUTIES OF ACADEMY. (a) The academy shall |
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provide, through extension courses, online courses, workshops, |
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seminars, and other appropriate means, comprehensive and technical |
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training and education focused on science-based best practices for |
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proper crime scene investigation and for the collection and |
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preservation of forensic evidence and the presentation of that |
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evidence in court. |
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(b) The academy shall consult with state and local law |
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enforcement agencies, prosecutors, public defenders, and judges in |
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this state as necessary to ensure that the curriculum and practices |
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of the academy are consistent with the needs of the criminal justice |
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system of this state. |
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Sec. 88.825. PERSONNEL. The Texas Engineering Extension |
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Service may employ a director and other personnel necessary to |
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administer this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |