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Title VI — Additional responsibilities of the office of forensic science and the forensic science board

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

VI Additional responsibilities of the office of forensic science and the forensic science board

Sec. 601 Forensic science training and education for judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel

(a)
In general—
(1)
Recommendation— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall submit to the Director a recommended plan for—
(A)
supporting the education and training of judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel in the forensic sciences and fundamental scientific principles, which shall include education on the competent use and evaluation of forensic science evidence; and
(B)
developing a standardized curriculum for education and training described in subparagraph (A).
(2)
Establishment— Upon receipt of the recommendation from the Board under paragraph (1), the Director shall establish, in accordance with section 101(f)(3), and implement a plan for—
(A)
supporting the education and training of judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel in the forensic sciences and fundamental scientific principles, which shall include education on the competent use and evaluation of forensic science evidence; and
(B)
developing a standardized curriculum for education and training described in subparagraph (A).
(3)
Oversight— The Director, in consultation with the Board, shall periodically evaluate and, as necessary, update the plan established under paragraph (2).
(b)
Technical assistance, training, and education—
(1)
In general— The Director of the National Institute of Justice may, in consultation with the Director—
(A)
provide technical assistance directly or indirectly to judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel in the forensic sciences and fundamental scientific principles, including the competent use and evaluation of forensic science evidence; and
(B)
make grants to States and units of local government and nonprofit organizations or institutions to provide training to judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel about the forensic sciences and fundamental scientific principles, including the competent use and evaluation of forensic science evidence.
(2)
Requirement— On and after the date on which the Director establishes the plan for supporting the education and training of judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel in the forensic sciences and fundamental scientific principles under subsection (a)(2), the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall administer the grant program described in paragraph (1) in accordance with the plan.

Sec. 602 Educational programs in the forensic sciences

(a)
Recommendations— Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall submit to the Director—
(1)
a recommended plan for supporting the development of undergraduate and graduate educational programs in the forensic science disciplines and related fields; and
(2)
recommendations as to whether the development of standards or requirements for educational programs in the forensic science disciplines and related fields is appropriate.
(b)
Establishment and implementation— Upon receipt of the recommendation from the Board under subsection (a), the Director shall establish, in accordance with section 101(f)(3), and implement—
(1)
a plan for supporting the development of undergraduate and graduate educational programs in the forensic science disciplines and related fields; and
(2)
any standards or requirements for education programs in the forensic science disciplines and related fields determined by the Director to be appropriate.
(c)
Existing qualified professional organizations— In recommending, establishing, and implementing the plan and standards described in subsections (a) and (b), the Board and the Director shall consider the role of qualified professional organizations that accredit forensic science education programs, and any standards developed by such qualified professional organizations.
(d)
Oversight— The Director, in consultation with the Board, shall—
(1)
oversee the implementation of any standards or requirements established under subsection (b); and
(2)
periodically evaluate and, as necessary, update the plan, standards, or requirements established under subsection (b).

Sec. 603 Medicolegal death investigation

(a)
Recommendations— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall submit to the Director—
(1)
a recommended plan to encourage the Federal Government and State and local governments to implement systems to ensure that qualified individuals perform medicolegal death investigations and to encourage qualified individuals to enter the field of medicolegal death investigation; and
(2)
recommendations on whether and how the requirements, standards and regulations established under this Act should apply to individuals who perform medicolegal death investigations.
(b)
Establishment and implementation— Upon receipt of the recommendations from the Board under subsection (a), the Director shall establish, in accordance with section 101(f)(3), and implement—
(1)
a plan to encourage the Federal Government and State and local governments to implement systems to ensure that qualified individuals perform medicolegal death investigations and to encourage qualified individuals to enter the field of medicolegal death investigation; and
(2)
any specific or additional standards or requirements for individuals who perform medicolegal death investigations determined by the Director to be appropriate.
(c)
Oversight— The Director, in consultation with the Board, shall—
(1)
oversee the implementation of any standards or requirements established under subsection (b)(2); and
(2)
periodically evaluate and, as necessary, update the plan, standards, and requirements established under subsection (b).

Sec. 604 Intergovernmental coordination

The Board and the Director shall regularly—
(1)
coordinate with relevant Federal agencies, including NIST, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, as appropriate, to make efficient and appropriate use of research expertise and funding;
(2)
coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and other relevant Federal agencies to determine ways in which the forensic science disciplines may assist in homeland security and emergency preparedness; and
(3)
coordinate with the United States intelligence community to make efficient and appropriate use of research and new technologies suitable for forensic science.

Sec. 605 Anonymous reporting

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a system for any individual to provide information relating to compliance, or lack of compliance, with the requirements, standards, and regulations established under this Act, which may include a hotline or Web site that has appropriate guarantees of anonymity and confidentiality and protections for whistleblowers.

Sec. 606 Interoperability of databases and technologies

(a)
Recommendations— Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall submit to the Director a recommended plan to require interoperability among databases and technologies in each of the forensic science disciplines among all levels of government, in all States, and where permitted by law, with the private sector.
(b)
Establishment and implementation— Upon receipt of the recommendation from the Board under subsection (a), the Director shall establish, in accordance with section 101(f)(3), and implement a plan to encourage interoperability among databases and technologies in each of the forensic science disciplines among all levels of government, in all States, and where permitted by law, with the private sector.
(c)
Oversight— The Director, in consultation with the Board, shall evaluate and, as necessary, update the plan established under subsection (b).

Sec. 607 Code of ethics

(a)
Recommendations—
(1)
In general— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall submit to the Director a recommended code of ethics for the forensic science disciplines.
(2)
Requirements— In developing a recommended code of ethics under paragraph (1), the Board shall—
(A)
consult with relevant qualified professional organizations; and
(B)
consider any recommendations relating to a code of ethics or code of professional responsibility developed by the Subcommittee on Forensic Science of the National Science and Technology Council.
(b)
Establishment and incorporation— Upon receipt of the recommendation from the Board under subsection (a), the Director shall—
(1)
in accordance with section 101(f)(3), establish a code of ethics for the forensic science disciplines; and
(2)
as appropriate, incorporate the code of ethics into the standards for accreditation of forensic science laboratories and certification of relevant personnel established under this Act.
(c)
Oversight— The Director, in consultation with the Board, shall periodically evaluate and, as necessary, update the code of ethics established under subsection (b).

Sec. 608 Needs assessment

(a)
In general— Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall conduct a needs assessment of State and local forensic service providers, including law enforcement agencies and medicolegal death examiners, in order to evaluate the capacity and resource needs of those providers. Such a needs assessment shall address the technology, equipment, personnel, recruitment, training, education, and research needs of those State and local forensic service providers.
(b)
Development of national strategy— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a national strategy for developing the capacity and resources of State and local forensic science providers and for addressing the needs identified in the assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (a).
(c)
Update of assessment and national strategy— Not less frequently than once every 5 years, the Director shall update the assessment conducted under subsection (a) and the national strategy developed under subsection (b).