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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 analyst |
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apprenticeship pilot program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 72, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter H to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS FORENSIC ANALYST APPRENTICESHIP PILOT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 72.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Accredited crime laboratory" means a crime |
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laboratory, as that term is defined by Article 38.35, Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, that has been accredited under Article 38.01 of |
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that code. |
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(2) "Commission" means the Texas Forensic Science |
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Commission. |
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(3) "Pilot program" means the Texas forensic analyst |
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apprenticeship pilot program established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 72.202. TEXAS FORENSIC ANALYST APPRENTICESHIP PILOT |
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PROGRAM. (a) The office shall establish the Texas forensic analyst |
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apprenticeship pilot program to increase the forensic science |
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workforce capacity in this state. The office shall collaborate with |
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the commission as necessary to administer the pilot program. |
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(b) To implement the pilot program, the office shall enter |
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into contracts with: |
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(1) the Center for Human Identification at the |
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University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth for |
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the purpose of creating a unified forensic biology (DNA) training |
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program; |
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(2) the Institute for Forensic Research, Training, and |
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Innovation at Sam Houston State University for the purpose of |
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creating a unified drug chemistry and toxicology training program; |
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(3) the Department of Statistics at Texas A&M |
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University for the purpose of creating a unified firearms |
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comparison training program; and |
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(4) each publicly funded accredited crime laboratory |
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that is awarded an apprentice position by the commission under |
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Section 72.203. |
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Sec. 72.203. FORENSIC ANALYST APPRENTICE POSITIONS; RULES. |
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(a) In consultation with the office, the commission by rule shall |
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adopt eligibility requirements for: |
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(1) individuals who may apply for an apprentice |
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position under the pilot program; and |
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(2) publicly funded accredited crime laboratories |
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that may apply to sponsor an apprentice under the pilot program. |
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(b) In establishing the eligibility requirements under |
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Subsection (a), the commission shall prioritize the long-term |
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retention of forensic analysts in accredited crime laboratories in |
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this state. |
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(c) The commission shall award apprentice positions to |
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individuals and accredited crime laboratories that meet the |
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eligibility requirements established under Subsection (a). The |
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commission shall enter into contracts with the laboratories |
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selected to sponsor apprentices under the pilot program. |
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(d) The commission shall: |
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(1) consult with the Texas Association of Crime Lab |
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Directors to determine the current need for forensic analyst |
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apprentices in each forensic discipline; and |
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(2) in consultation with the office, adopt rules |
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regarding the required training curricula for the forensic science |
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training programs described by Sections 72.202(b)(1), (2), and (3). |
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Sec. 72.204. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September |
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1, 2030. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |