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Title V — Standards and best practices

S. 2177 · 113th Congress · Mar 27, 2014 · Lineage

V Standards and best practices

Sec. 501 Development of standards and best practices

(a)
Committee recommendations—
(1)
In general— Not later than 2 years after the date on which all members of a Committee have been appointed under section 103, the Committee shall develop and recommend to the Board standards and best practices for each forensic science discipline addressed by the Committee, including—
(A)
validated protocols;
(B)
quality assurance standards; and
(C)
standards to be applied in reporting, including reports of identifications, analyses, or comparisons of forensic evidence that may be used during a criminal investigation or criminal court proceeding.
(2)
Requirements— In developing the standards and best practices under paragraph (1), a Committee shall—
(A)
as appropriate, consult with qualified professional organizations;
(B)
consider existing validated protocols and best practices;
(C)
develop standards and best practices that are designed to ensure the quality and scientific integrity of data, results, conclusions, analyses, and reports that are generated for use in the criminal justice system; and
(D)
develop standards and best practices that afford laboratories appropriate operational flexibility, including appropriate flexibility as to specific instruments, equipment, and methods.
(b)
Board recommendations— Not later than 180 days after the date on which a Committee submits recommended standards and best practices under subsection (a), the Board shall, in accordance with section 103(f)(2)—
(1)
consider the recommendations; and
(2)
submit to the Director recommendations of standards and best practices.

Sec. 502 Establishment and dissemination of standards and best practices

(a)
In General— After the Board submits standards or best practices for a forensic science discipline under section 501(b), the Director shall, in accordance with section 101(f)(3), establish and disseminate standards and best practices for the forensic science discipline.
(b)
Publication— The Director shall publish the standards and best practices established under subsection (a) on the Web site of the Office.

Sec. 503 Review and oversight

(a)
Review by committees—
(1)
In general— Not less frequently than once every 3 years, each Committee shall review and, as necessary, recommend to the Board updates to the standards and best practices established under section 502 for each forensic science discipline within the responsibility of the Committee.
(2)
Considerations— In reviewing, and developing recommended updates to, the standards and best practices under paragraph (1), a Committee shall consider—
(A)
input from qualified professional organizations;
(B)
research published after the date on which the standards and best practices were established, including research conducted under title IV; and
(C)
any changes to relevant law made after the date on which the standards and best practices were established.
(b)
Board recommendations— Not later than 180 days after the date on which a Committee submits recommended updates to the standards and best practices under subsection (a), the Board shall, in accordance with section 103(f)(2)—
(1)
consider the recommendations; and
(2)
recommend to the Director any updates, as necessary, to the standards and best practices established under section 502.
(c)
Updates— After the Director receives recommended updates, if any, under subsection (b), the Director shall, in accordance with section 101(f)(3), update and disseminate the standards and best practices for each forensic science discipline as necessary.
(d)
Procedures— The Director, in consultation with the Board, shall establish procedures to ensure that the process for developing, reviewing, and updating the standards and best practices—
(1)
is open and transparent to the public; and
(2)
includes an opportunity for the public to comment on proposed standards with sufficient prior notice.