Debbie Smith Act of 2019

To strengthen programs authorized under the Debbie Smith Act of 2004. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Debbie Smith Act of 2019 2. DNA Backlog Grant Program improvement Section 2 of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 ( 34 U.S.C. 40701 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking including prioritizing, to the extent practicable consistent with public safety considerations (B) in paragraph (8), by striking including in particular, (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (6), by striking and (B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (8) provide assurances that the DNA section of the laboratory to be used to conduct DNA analyses has a written policy that prioritizes the analysis of, to the extent practicable consistent with public safety considerations, samples from homicides and sexual assaults. ; (3) in subsection (c)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking 2014 through 2019 2019 through 2024 (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 2014 through 2019 2019 through 2024 (4) in subsection (g)— (A) by redesignating paragraph (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), and adjusting the margins accordingly; (B) by striking Not later (1) In general Not later ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) Implementation of program improvements Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Debbie Smith Act of 2019 (A) the Director of the National Institute of Justice shall— (i) define DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction program-wide goals in clear, specific, and measurable terms; (ii) consistently document the goals defined under clause (i); and (iii) use performance measures for each goal defined under clause (i) that fully reflect the appropriate attributes of successful performance measures according to recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office in the report entitled, DNA Evidence: DOJ Should Improve Performance Measurement and Properly Design controls for Nationwide Grant Program (B) the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs shall fully establish all appropriate controls relating to conflicts of interest and to lobbying as reported by the Government Accountability Office in the report entitled, DNA Evidence: DOJ Should Improve Performance Measurement and Properly Design controls for Nationwide Grant Program (2) (3) Report on effectiveness of grant program Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Comptroller General of the United States issues the 2018 report on the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant Program, or 180 days after the date of enactment of the Debbie Smith Act of 2019 (A) describes any action taken by the Department of Justice since the release of the 2018 report on the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant Program to improve the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant Program based on the recommendations of the Comptroller General; and (B) includes recommendations for reforms that could enhance the effectiveness of the program in reducing the backlog of unanalyzed DNA evidence in sexual assault cases. (3) GAO report Not later than 180 days after the end of the third fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and once every 3 fiscal years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue a report on the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant Program describing, by year— (A) the total number of new DNA requests; (B) the total number of cases, items, and offender and arrestee samples analyzed; (C) the total number of DNA profiles uploaded to the national DNA index; (D) the total number of matches and investigations aided by matches made by the national DNA index; (E) changes in total laboratory capacity to conduct DNA analyses as described in subsection (a)(3); (F) the number of open DNA cases at the end of each year and open DNA cases older than 30 days at the end of the year; (G) the number of sexual assault cases submitted to the laboratory during the year and the number of untested sexual assault cases older than 30 days at the end of the year; (H) whether the National Institute of Justice has defined DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction program-wide goals in clear, specific, and measurable terms; and (I) whether the Office of Justice Programs has fully established all appropriate controls related to lobbying. ; and (4) GAO Report Not later than 180 days after the end of the third fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of the Debbie Smith Act of 2019 (A) describes, by year— (i) the total number of new crime scene DNA analysis requests submitted to laboratories; (ii) the total number of crime scene DNA analysis requests analyzed including, to the extent practicable and reported separately— (I) the number analyzed at laboratories participating in Combined DNA Index System; and (II) the number of requests outsourced and analyzed at private laboratories; (iii) the total number of DNA profiles from crime scene evidence uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System; (iv) the total number of Combined DNA Index System hits and investigations aided resulting from DNA profiles recovered from crime scene evidence; (v) the number of outstanding crime scene DNA analysis requests at the end of each year and the number of such outstanding requests that are older than 30 days at the end of the year; and (vi) to the extent practicable, the number of requests associated with sexual assault cases submitted to laboratories during the year and the number of such requests that are older than 30 days at the end of the year; and (B) includes a determination as to— (i) whether the National Institute of Justice has defined DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction program-wide goals as required under paragraph (2)(A); and (ii) whether the Office of Justice Programs has fully established all appropriate controls relating to conflicts of interest and to lobbying as required under paragraph (2)(B). ; and (5) in subsection (j), by striking 2015 through 2019 2019 through 2024 3. Training and education Section 303(b) of the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004 ( 34 U.S.C. 40722(b) 2015 through 2019 2019 through 2024 4. Sexual assault forensic exam grants Section 304(d) of the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004 ( 34 U.S.C. 40723(d) 2015 through 2019 2019 through 2024 May 9, 2019 Reported with amendments

Summary: Debbie Smith Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes grants that support state and local efforts to process DNA evidence in rape kits. Specifically, it reauthorizes through FY2024 the following: grants under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program; grants to provide DNA training and education for law enforcement personnel, corrections personnel, and court officers; and grants under the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program.