| TO: | Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1658 by Hinojosa (Relating to the membership and duties of, and the investigations conducted by, the Texas Forensic Science Commission, the administrative attachment of the Texas Forensic Science Commission to the Department of Public Safety, and the accreditation of criminal laboratories by the Department of Public Safety.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code as they relate to the Texas Forensic Science Commission (FSC). The bill would amend the membership of the Forensic Science Commission. The bill would provide guidelines regarding investigations and subsequent recommendations by the FSC. The bill would require the FSC to enter into memorandums of understanding with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and any applicable state agencies regarding the investigation of certain laboratories, facilities, or entities. The bill would administratively attach the FSC to DPS and require DPS to provide certain assistance to the FSC. The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote of all the members in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2011. No significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: | 103 Legislative Council, 301 Office of the Governor, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 405 Department of Public Safety, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, ESi, GG
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