Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1700
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2003-10-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Armed Forces and National Security
Authorization
Capital punishment
Child sexual abuse
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Compensation (Law)
Compensation for victims of crime
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Conspiracy
Contempt of court
Correctional personnel
Court records
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Criminal procedure
DNA
Data banks
Department of Justice
Directories
Drug abuse
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electronic government information
Employee training
Evidence (Law)
Families
Family services
Family violence
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal aid to research
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fines (Penalties)
Fingerprints
Firearms
Forensic chemistry
Forensic medicine
Forensic scientists
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government paperwork
Government procurement
Governmental investigations
Health
Higher education
Identification devices
Identification of criminals
Indian law enforcement
Indian women
Inspectors general
Judicial officers
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Law
Lawyers
Legal aid
Legal education
Legal ethics
Legal fees
Legal services
Licenses
Limitation of actions
Local laws
Medical education
Military and naval offenses
Minorities
Missing persons
Murder
Negligence
Nonprofit organizations
Obstruction of justice
Parole
Performance measurement
Perjury
Physical examinations
Police training
Prisoners
Prisoners' rights
Professional associations
Prosecution
Public defenders
Public prosecutors
Rape
Recidivists
Research and development
Right of privacy
Salaries
Science, Technology, Communications
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sex crimes
Social Welfare
Social life and customs
Standards
State laws
Toxicology
Victims of crimes
Violence
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: 
Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003 - Rape Kits and DNA Evidence Backlog Elimination Act of 2003 - Amends: (1) the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to reauthorize the Act; (2) the DNA Identification Act of 1994 (Identification Act) to expand the scope of DNA samples to be included in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS); and (3) the Violence Against Women Act to authorize grants to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of dating violence.
 
DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2003 - Amends the Identification Act to require that CODIS include only information on DNA identification records and analyses that are prepared by laboratories that: (1) have been accredited by a nationally recognized nonprofit professional association of forensic scientists within two years; and (2) undergo external audits at least every two years that demonstrate compliance with specified standards.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for: (1) DNA training and education; (2) sexual assault forensic examination programs; (3) research and development; (4) using DNA technology to identify missing persons; and (5) tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions.
 
Expands and reauthorizes the Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program.
 
Innocence Protection Act of 2003 - Sets forth conditions under which a Federal prisoner may obtain post-conviction DNA testing of specific evidence. 
 
Directs the Attorney General to award grants to States to improve the quality of legal representation in State capital cases.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-21
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2004-09-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12293-12298)
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: Introduced in Senate