108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3214
AN ACT
To eliminate the substantial backlog of DNA sam-
ples collected from crime scenes and convicted of-
fenders, to improve and expand the DNA testing
capacity of Federal, State, and local crime lab-
oratories, to increase research and development
of new DNA testing technologies, to develop new
training programs regarding the collection and
use of DNA evidence, to provide post-conviction
testing of DNA evidence to exonerate the inno-
cent, to improve the performance of counsel in
State capital cases, and for other purposes.
108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3214
AN ACT
To eliminate the substantial backlog of DNA samples col-
lected from crime scenes and convicted offenders, to im-
prove and expand the DNA testing capacity of Federal,
State, and local crime laboratories, to increase research
and development of new DNA testing technologies, to
develop new training programs regarding the collection
and use of DNA evidence, to provide post-conviction
testing of DNA evidence to exonerate the innocent, to
improve the performance of counsel in State capital
cases, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of
2003’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—DEBBIE SMITH ACT OF 2003
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program.
Sec. 103. Expansion of Combined DNA Index System.
Sec. 104. Tolling of statute of limitations.
Sec. 105. Legal assistance for victims of violence.
Sec. 106. Ensuring private laboratory assistance in eliminating DNA backlog.
TITLE II—DNA SEXUAL ASSAULT JUSTICE ACT OF 2003
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Ensuring public crime laboratory compliance with Federal standards.
Sec. 203. DNA training and education for law enforcement, correctional per-
sonnel, and court officers.
Sec. 204. Sexual assault forensic exam program grants.
Sec. 205. DNA research and development.
Sec. 206. National Forensic Science Commission.
Sec. 207. FBI DNA programs.
Sec. 208. DNA identification of missing persons.
Sec. 209. Enhanced criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure or use of
DNA information.
Sec. 210. Tribal coalition grants.
Sec. 211. Expansion of Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant
Program.
Sec. 212. Report to Congress.
TITLE III—INNOCENCE PROTECTION ACT OF 2003
Sec. 301. Short title.
Subtitle A—Exonerating the Innocent Through DNA Testing
Sec. 311. Federal post-conviction DNA testing.
Sec. 312. Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program.
Sec. 313. Incentive grants to States to ensure consideration of claims of actual
innocence.
Subtitle B—Improving the Quality of Representation in State Capital Cases
Sec. 321. Capital representation improvement grants.
Sec. 322. Capital prosecution improvement grants.
Sec. 323. Applications.
Sec. 324. State reports.
Sec. 325. Evaluations by Inspector General and administrative remedies.
Sec. 326. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle C—Compensation for the Wrongfully Convicted
Sec. 331. Increased compensation in Federal cases for the wrongfully convicted.
Sec. 332. Sense of Congress regarding compensation in State death penalty
cases.
TITLE I—DEBBIE SMITH ACT OF
2003
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Debbie Smith Act of
2003’’.
SEC. 102. DEBBIE SMITH DNA BACKLOG GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) DESIGNATION
OF PROGRAM; ELIGIBILITY
OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS GRANTEES.—Section 2 of the
DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (42
U.S.C. 14135) is amended—
(1) by amending the heading to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 2. THE DEBBIE SMITH DNA BACKLOG GRANT PRO-
GRAM.’’;
(2) in subsection (a)—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph
(1)—
(i) by inserting ‘‘or units of local gov-
ernment’’ after ‘‘eligible States’’; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or unit of local gov-
ernment’’ after ‘‘State’’;
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting before
the period at the end the following: ‘‘, including
samples from rape kits, samples from other sex-
ual assault evidence, and samples taken in cases
without an identified suspect’’; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘within
the State’’;
(3) in subsection (b)—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph
(1)—
(i) by inserting ‘‘or unit of local gov-
ernment’’ after ‘‘State’’ both places that
term appears; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, as required by the
Attorney 
General’’ 
after 
‘‘application
shall’’;
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or unit
of local government’’ after ‘‘State’’;
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘or unit
of local government’’ after ‘‘State’’ the first
place that term appears;
(D) in paragraph (4)—
(i) by inserting ‘‘or unit of local gov-
ernment’’ after ‘‘State’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;