PUBLIC LAW 115–50—AUG. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 1001 

Public Law 115–50 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To establish a system for integration of Rapid DNA instruments for use by law 

enforcement to reduce violent crime and reduce the current DNA analysis backlog. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rapid DNA Act of 2017’’. 

SEC. 2. RAPID DNA INSTRUMENTS. 

(a) STANDARDS.—Section 210303(a) of the DNA Identification 

Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14131(a)) is amended by adding at the 

end the following: 

‘‘(5)(A) In addition to issuing standards as provided in 

paragraphs (1) through (4), the Director of the Federal Bureau 

of Investigation shall issue standards and procedures for the 

use of Rapid DNA instruments and resulting DNA analyses. 

‘‘(B) In this Act, the term ‘Rapid DNA instruments’ means 

instrumentation that carries out a fully automated process 

to derive a DNA analysis from a DNA sample.’’. 

(b) INDEX.—Paragraph (2) of section 210304(b) of the DNA 

Identification Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14132(b)(2)) is amended to 

read as follows: 

‘‘(2) prepared by— 

‘‘(A) laboratories that— 

‘‘(i) have been accredited by a nonprofit professional association of persons actively involved in 

forensic science that is nationally recognized within 

the forensic science community; and 

‘‘(ii) undergo external audits, not less than once 

every 2 years, that demonstrate compliance with standards established by the Director of the Federal Bureau 

of Investigation; or 

‘‘(B) criminal justice agencies using Rapid DNA 

instruments approved by the Director of the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation in compliance with the standards 

and procedures issued by the Director under section 

210303(a)(5); and’’. 

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO COLLECTION OF 

DNA IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION. 

(a) FROM CERTAIN FEDERAL OFFENDERS.—Section 3 of the DNA 

Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135a) is 

amended— 

Waiver authority. 

Definition. 

Deadline. 

Definition. 

Procedures. 

Rapid DNA Act 

of 2017. 

42 USC 13701 

note. 

Aug. 18, 2017 

[H.R. 510] 


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131 STAT. 1002 PUBLIC LAW 115–50—AUG. 18, 2017 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 510 (S. 139): 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–117 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 

May 16, considered and passed House. 

Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may waive 

the requirements under this subsection if DNA samples are 

analyzed by means of Rapid DNA instruments and the results 

are included in CODIS.’’; and 

(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(3) The term ‘Rapid DNA instruments’ means 

instrumentation that carries out a fully automated process 

to derive a DNA analysis from a DNA sample.’’. 

(b) FROM CERTAIN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFENDERS.—Section 

4 of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 

14135b) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may waive 

the requirements under this subsection if DNA samples are 

analyzed by means of Rapid DNA instruments and the results 

are included in CODIS.’’; and 

(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(3) The term ‘Rapid DNA instruments’ means 

instrumentation that carries out a fully automated process 

to derive a DNA analysis from a DNA sample.’’. 

Approved August 18, 2017. 


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