I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8239 
To facilitate the development and distribution of forensic science standards 
by establishing in the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas (for herself and Mr. LUCAS) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To facilitate the development and distribution of forensic 
science standards by establishing in the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology the Organization of 
Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Forensic Science Re-
search and Standards Act of 2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) In 2009, the National Research Council 
published a report entitled ‘‘Strengthening Forensic 
Science in the United States: A Path Forward’’, 
which provided a roadmap for the future of forensics 
research. 
(2) The Federal Government, forensic science 
community, the research community, and the legal 
community have taken steps to move the field of fo-
rensic science forward since the release of this re-
port. 
(3) There are still scientific advances to be 
made to bring further rigor to the forensic analyses 
used in courts across the United States. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives. 
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(2) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Fo-
rensic Science Standards Board established under 
section 5(b)(1). 
(3) FORENSIC
SCIENCE.—The term ‘‘forensic 
science’’ refers to the application of scientific or 
technical practices to the recognition, collection, 
analysis, and interpretation of evidence to establish 
opinions, facts, and findings that can be used for 
criminal and civil law or regulatory purposes. 
(4) 
FORENSIC
SCIENCE
COMMUNITY.—The 
term ‘‘forensic science community’’ means forensic 
science practitioners, agencies, and service providers, 
forensic medicolegal death investigators, medical ex-
aminers or coroners, agencies, and service providers, 
various scientists, and forensic organizational mem-
bers with applied scientific and technical knowledge 
of and proximity to the area of forensic science. 
(5) FORENSIC
SCIENCE
PRACTITIONER.—The 
term ‘‘forensic science practitioner’’ means an indi-
vidual who— 
(A) applies scientific or technical practices 
to the recognition, collection, analysis, or inter-
pretation of evidence for criminal and civil law 
or regulatory purposes; and 
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(B) issues test results, provides reports, or 
provides interpretations, conclusions, or opin-
ions through testimony with respect to such evi-
dence. 
(6) ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Organization’’ 
means the Organization of Scientific Area Commit-
tees for Forensic Science established under section 
5(a)(1). 
(7) NONGOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS DEVELOP-
MENT
ORGANIZATIONS.—The 
term 
‘‘nongovern-
mental standards development organization’’ means 
a standards developing organization as defined in 
section 2(e) of Office of Management and Budget 
Circular A–119 (relating to Federal participation in 
the development and use of voluntary consensus 
standards in conformity assessment activities), or 
any successor document. 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL FORENSIC SCIENCE RESEARCH COORDI-
NATION AND STRATEGY. 
(a) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON FORENSIC 
SCIENCE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy shall establish 
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an interagency working group (referred to in this 
section as the ‘‘Working Group’’) for the purpose of 
coordinating Federal investments relating to, and 
developing a research strategy for, forensic science. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) COMPOSITION.—The Working Group 
shall be composed of members as follows: 
(i) One or more members selected by 
the Director of the National Science Foun-
dation as the Director of the National 
Science Foundation considers appropriate. 
(ii) One or more members selected by 
the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology as the Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology considers appropriate. 
(iii) One or more members selected by 
the Attorney General as the Attorney Gen-
eral considers appropriate, which shall in-
clude a representative with expertise in 
conducting scientific research. 
(iv) One or more members selected by 
the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy as the Director con-
siders appropriate. 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
not less frequently than once every 2 years 
thereafter until the termination of the Working 
Group, the Working Group shall publish a re-
search strategy for the Federal Government on 
forensic science. 
(B) CONTENTS.—The strategy required by 
subparagraph (A) shall include the following: 
(i) Specification of priority areas, in-
cluding specific milestones and objectives 
as appropriate, for the short-term and 
long-term research necessary— 
(I) to enhance the validity and 
reliability of forensic science dis-
ciplines, 
including 
emerging 
dis-
ciplines; and 
(II) to provide the scientific basis 
for the development and updating of 
forensic science standards pursuant to 
section 5. 
(ii) A description of the role of each 
relevant Federal agency in supporting the 
specific areas of research identified under 
clause (i). 
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(iii) A description of common metrics 
and other evaluation criteria that will be 
used to assess progress toward achieving 
the priorities, milestones, and objectives 
identified under clause (i), consistent with 
the mission of each Federal agency speci-
fied under clause (ii). 
(iv) Recommendations, if any, for 
policies to support the implementation of 
the research strategy, including opportuni-
ties for new or expanded interagency col-
laborations. 
(v) A description of the options, if 
any, for a Federal Government role in 
helping to ensure the viability of a non-
governmental standards development orga-
nization for the promulgation of forensic 
science standards developed under section 
5. 
(vi) A description of changes or 
progress since the publication of the pre-
vious research strategy. 
(5) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—In developing 
the research strategy under paragraph (4), the 
Working Group shall consult with stakeholders, in-
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cluding 
forensic 
science 
practitioners, 
forensic 
science working groups within the Office of Justice 
Programs of the Department of Justice, the Organi-
zation of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for 
Forensic Science of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology, statisticians, criminal justice 
stakeholders, and research scientists to ensure that 
the strategy takes into account practical applications 
and implementation of the research. 
(6) TERMINATION.—The Working Group estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the 
date that is 10 years after the date on which such 
working group is established. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation, the Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, and the Attorney General, 
shall continue to advance the foundation and practice of 
forensic science in the United States by— 
(1) conducting or supporting research in foren-
sic science, consistent with the Federal research 
strategy developed under subsection (a)(3); 
(2) building relationships between members of 
the forensic science community and researchers at 
universities; 
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(3) encouraging and promoting the education 
and training of a diverse group of people to be lead-
ers in the interdisciplinary field of forensic science; 
and 
(4) broadly disseminating the results of the re-
search conducted or supported under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 5. FACILITATING DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION 
OF FORENSIC SCIENCE STANDARDS. 
(a) ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC AREA COMMIT-
TEES FOR FORENSIC SCIENCE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘Director’’), shall establish within the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology an 
organization to facilitate the development of forensic 
science standards. 
(2) DESIGNATION.—The organization estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall be known as the 
‘‘Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Fo-
rensic Science’’. 
(3) COMPOSITION.—The Organization shall be 
composed of the following: 
(A) The Forensic Science and Standards 
Board established under subsection (b). 
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(B) Each scientific area committee estab-
lished under subsection (c). 
(4) DUTIES OF THE ORGANIZATION.—The du-
ties of the Organization are as follows: 
(A) Facilitate the development and dis-
tribution of scientifically sound, consensus- 
based documentary standards and guidelines for 
forensic science, including through formal col-
laboration with nongovernmental standards de-
velopment organizations. 
(B) Establish a registry of scientifically 
sound forensic science standards and guidelines 
approved and endorsed by the Organization. 
(C) Establish a process for regularly re- 
evaluating existing standards and guidelines 
published for placement on the registry estab-
lished under subparagraph (B). 
(D) Promote the adoption by the forensic 
science community of the standards and guide-
lines described in subparagraph (A) and in-
cluded in the registry established under sub-
paragraph (B). 
(b) FORENSIC SCIENCE STANDARDS BOARD.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Director, shall establish within the Or-
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ganization a board to oversee the operations of the 
Organization and its committees. 
(2) 
DESIGNATION.—The 
board 
established 
under paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘‘Foren-
sic Science Standards Board’’. 
(3) COMPOSITION.—The Board shall be com-
posed of the following: 
(A) Members selected by the Secretary to 
serve on the Board from each of the following: 
(i) Members of the forensic science 
community. 
(ii) Scientists and engineers with rel-
evant expertise at institutions of higher 
education and other nonprofit research or-
ganizations. 
(iii) Statisticians. 
(iv) A representative of each of the 
task groups established under subsection 
(d), as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(v) Such other communities or sectors 
as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(B) The chairpersons of the scientific area 
committees established under subsection (c). 
(4) DUTIES.—The duties of the Board are as 
follows: 
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(A) Oversee all operations of the Organiza-
tion, including the committees of the Organiza-
tion. 
(B) Establish governance rules and policies 
for the Organization. 
(C) Facilitate communication within the 
Organization and between the Organization, the 
criminal justice community, and the forensic 
science community. 
(D) Oversee the reviewing and approving 
process of standards to be added to the registry 
established under subsection (a)(4)(B). 
(5) AUTHORITY TO APPROVE STANDARDS FOR 
LISTING IN REGISTRY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE STAND-
ARDS AND GUIDELINES.—The Board may approve 
standards for listing on the registry established 
under subsection (a)(4)(B). 
(c) SCIENTIFIC AREA COMMITTEES.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Director, shall establish one or more sci-
entific area committees to carry out the work of the 
Organization. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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(A) COMPOSITION.—Each scientific area 
committee established under paragraph (1) 
shall be composed of the following: 
(i) The chairperson of the scientific 
area committee. 
(ii) The vice chairperson of the sci-
entific area committee. 
(iii) The chairperson of each sub-
committee established under paragraph (3) 
for each scientific area committee under 
paragraph (1). 
(B) CHAIRPERSON
AND
VICE
CHAIR-
PERSON.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—For each scientific 
area committee established under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall appoint a 
chairperson and a vice chairperson for the 
scientific area committee from among indi-
viduals with expertise in the subject area 
of the scientific area committee. 
(ii) SERVICE.—Each chairperson and 
vice chairperson appointed under clause (i) 
shall serve as a chairperson or vice chair-
person at the pleasure of the Secretary. 
(3) SUBCOMMITTEES.— 
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(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary may 
establish such subcommittees in a scientific 
area committee established under paragraph (1) 
as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist 
in the work of the scientific area committee. 
(B) MEMBERSHIP.—Each subcommittee 
established under subparagraph (A) shall be 
composed of such members selected by the Sec-
retary from among the following: 
(i) Forensic science practitioners. 
(ii) Scientists and engineers at institu-
tions of higher education and other non-
profit research organizations. 
(iii) Statisticians. 
(iv) Representatives of the legal com-
munity. 
(v) Such others as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate for purposes of this sec-
tion. 
(4) DUTIES.—The duties of a scientific area 
committee established under paragraph (1) shall be 
as follows: 
(A) Coordinate the operation and activities 
of specific forensic science discipline subcommit-
tees in order to encourage communication 
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across all subject- and discipline-specific sub-
committees. 
(B) Provide the public with the oppor-
tunity to engage the forensic science community 
in matters relating to priorities, standards, and 
guidelines. 
(C) Address topics of high importance to 
the forensic community, such as matters relat-
ing to the following: 
(i) Biology. 
(ii) Chemistry, including— 
(I) matters relating to seized 
drugs and toxicology; and 
(II) matters relating to trace evi-
dence. 
(iii) Scene examination. 
(iv) Medicine. 
(v) Digital and multimedia. 
(vi) Physics and pattern interpreta-
tion. 
(vii) Computational forensic algo-
rithms. 
(D) Further the development of standards 
under subsection (e)(1) and other guidelines. 
(d) RESOURCE TASK GROUPS.— 
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(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Board, shall establish legal, human fac-
tors, quality, and statistics task groups to support 
and assist the Organization with matters relating to 
questions of law, human factors, ethical and social 
implications of technology, workflow processes, qual-
ity assurance, and statistics. 
(2) 
MEMBERSHIP.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Board, shall ensure that each task 
group established under paragraph (1) is composed 
of voting members of the subcommittees established 
under subsection (c)(3) who have relevant expertise. 
(3) CHAIRPERSONS.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Board, shall appoint a chairperson of 
each task group established under paragraph (1). 
(e) FORENSIC SCIENCE STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT 
PROCESS.— 
(1) STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.—The 
Secretary, acting through the Organization, shall im-
plement a process to facilitate the development of 
scientifically sound, consensus-based forensic stand-
ards and guidelines, consistent with the duties de-
scribed for each entity established under this section. 
(2) TECHNICAL REVIEW.— 
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