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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to private DNA laboratories performing forensic analyses |
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on samples or specimens related to the investigation or prosecution |
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of certain criminal offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter G, Chapter 411, |
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Government Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. DNA [DATABASE SYSTEM] |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 411.155 and 411.156 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.155. FORENSIC ANALYSES PERFORMED BY PRIVATE DNA |
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LABORATORIES: CERTAIN OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY. (a) This |
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section applies only to a sample or specimen related to the |
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investigation or prosecution of an offense under Chapter 28, 29, |
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30, or 31, Penal Code. |
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(b) A law enforcement agency may submit a sample or specimen |
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described by Subsection (a) to a private DNA laboratory for |
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forensic analysis if: |
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(1) the private DNA laboratory is accredited by: |
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(A) the department; and |
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(B) the American Society of Crime Laboratory |
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Directors, Forensic Quality Services International, or any other |
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nonprofit professional association of persons actively involved in |
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forensic science that is nationally recognized within the forensic |
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science community; and |
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(2) the law enforcement agency pays all costs of the |
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analysis. |
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Sec. 411.156. QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW FOR FORENSIC |
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ANALYSES PERFORMED BY PRIVATE DNA LABORATORIES. (a) In this |
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section, "analyst" means a person employed at a DNA laboratory who |
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is qualified to perform some or all aspects of a forensic DNA |
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analysis on a sample or specimen derived from a human body, physical |
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evidence, or a crime scene. |
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(b) Subject to Subsection (c), with respect to forensic |
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analyses performed by a private DNA laboratory under Section |
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411.155, a public DNA laboratory that services the geographic area |
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where the law enforcement agency is located shall perform the |
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quality assurance reviews required by the Federal Bureau of |
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Investigation (FBI). |
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(c) If the public DNA laboratory does not have the personnel |
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capacity to perform the necessary quality assurance reviews and if |
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FBI regulations allow contractors to be used for that purpose, the |
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public DNA laboratory shall use contractors to perform the quality |
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assurance reviews required by the FBI. The law enforcement agency |
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requesting the DNA testing shall pay the cost of the quality |
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assurance reviews. |
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(d) If FBI regulations do not allow contractors to be used |
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as described by Subsection (c) or if contractors are not available |
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for that purpose, the public DNA laboratory shall enter into a |
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barter agreement with the private DNA laboratory to enable |
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personnel at the public DNA laboratory to perform the necessary |
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quality assurance reviews. Under the barter agreement, the private |
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DNA laboratory shall perform forensic DNA analyses for the public |
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DNA laboratory in relation to the investigation or prosecution of a |
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variety of offenses: |
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(1) at no cost to the public DNA laboratory; and |
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(2) in a volume necessary to enable the public DNA |
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laboratory to perform all quality assurance reviews made necessary |
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by this section. |
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(e) The barter agreement required by Subsection (d) must be |
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calculated based on the following assumptions: |
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(1) unless the analyst has other testing-related |
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duties, an analyst employed at the public DNA laboratory is able to |
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perform quality assurance reviews each week on 50 samples or |
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specimens analyzed by the private DNA laboratory; |
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(2) the public DNA laboratory is not required to |
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perform a quality assurance review on a sample or specimen that |
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fails to generate a DNA profile meeting the requirements necessary |
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for uploading the sample or specimen to the CODIS database; |
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(3) the private DNA laboratory must agree to perform a |
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set amount of forensic analyses, as calculated under Subsection |
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(f), for the public DNA laboratory at no charge not later than the |
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60th day after the date the private DNA laboratory receives the |
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samples or specimens; |
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(4) subject to Subdivision (2), the public DNA |
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laboratory must perform a quality assurance review on each of the |
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forensic analyses performed by the private DNA laboratory under |
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Subdivision (3); and |
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(5) the public DNA laboratory must send the private |
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DNA laboratory different types or categories of samples or |
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specimens, such as a category relating to unscreened sexual assault |
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evidence collection kits, in a proportion equal to the different |
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types or categories of samples and specimens received for purposes |
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of analysis by the public DNA laboratory during the 12-month period |
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preceding the date of the agreement. |
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(f) The set amount of forensic analyses performed at no |
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charge by a private DNA laboratory under Subsection (e)(3) as part |
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of the barter agreement is equal to the total number of samples or |
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specimens submitted to the public DNA laboratory for quality |
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assurance review, divided by 50, which then must be multiplied by |
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the total number of samples or specimens for which the public DNA |
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laboratory has performed forensic analyses during the 12-month |
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period preceding the date of the agreement, divided by the number of |
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analysts employed at the public DNA laboratory during that period, |
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and further divided by 52. The amount must be rounded to the |
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nearest whole number. |
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(g) The public DNA laboratory is entitled to retain any |
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costs saved as a result of the barter agreement and shall use the |
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savings, if any, to expedite forensic analyses of samples or |
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specimens related to violent offenses. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |