Debbie Smith Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-820
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-03-14
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Congressional oversight

Crimes against women

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Criminal justice information and records

Evidence and witnesses

Genetics

Government studies and investigations

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Sex offenses

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2019-05-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-03-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Debbie Smith Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes grants that support state and local efforts to process DNA evidence in rape kits.</p> <p>Specifically, it reauthorizes through FY2024 the following:</p> <ul> <li>grants under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program;</li> <li>grants to provide DNA training and education for law enforcement personnel, corrections personnel, and court officers; and</li> <li>grants under the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program.</li> </ul>

action_date: 2019-05-09
action_desc: Reported to Senate
text: <p><b>Debbie Smith Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes grants that support state and local efforts to process DNA evidence in rape kits.</p> <p>Specifically, it reauthorizes through FY2024 the following:</p> <ul> <li>grants under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program;</li> <li>grants to provide DNA training and education for law enforcement personnel, corrections personnel, and court officers; and</li> <li>grants under the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program.</li> </ul>

action_date: 2019-05-16
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p><b>Debbie Smith Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes grants that support state and local efforts to process DNA evidence in rape kits.</p> <p>Specifically, it reauthorizes through FY2024 the following:</p> <ul> <li>grants under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program;</li> <li>grants to provide DNA training and education for law enforcement personnel, corrections personnel, and court officers; and</li> <li>grants under the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 820 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 14, 2019 Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Ernst , Ms. McSally , Mr. Burr , Mr. Leahy , Ms. Klobuchar , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Crapo , and Mr. Scott of South Carolina ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL 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 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking including and inserting prioritizing, to the extent practicable consistent with public safety considerations ; and (B) in paragraph (8), by striking including and inserting in particular, ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; 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 and inserting 2019 through 2024 ; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 2014 through 2019 and inserting 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 and inserting the following: (1) In general Not later ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) 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 , whichever date is later, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that— (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 (5) in subsection (j), by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 2019 through 2024 .

tv_txt: 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 820 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT 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 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking including and inserting prioritizing, to the extent practicable consistent with public safety considerations ; and (B) in paragraph (8), by striking including and inserting in particular, ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; 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 and inserting 2019 through 2024 ; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 2014 through 2019 and inserting 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 and inserting the following: (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 (GAO–19–216); and (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 (GAO–19–216). (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 , whichever date is later, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that— (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. . (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 , and once every 3 fiscal years thereafter through fiscal year 2025, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue a report on the DNA analysis workloads at laboratories that participate in the Combined DNA Index System using data available from the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant Program or other sources that— (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 and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 2019 through 2024 .

Passed the Senate May 16, 2019. Secretary

tv_txt: IC 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 820 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 20, 2019 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary AN ACT 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 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking including and inserting prioritizing, to the extent practicable consistent with public safety considerations ; and (B) in paragraph (8), by striking including and inserting in particular, ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; 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 and inserting 2019 through 2024 ; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 2014 through 2019 and inserting 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 and inserting the following: (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 (GAO–19–216); and (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 (GAO–19–216). (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 , whichever date is later, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that— (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. . (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 , and once every 3 fiscal years thereafter through fiscal year 2025, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue a report on the DNA analysis workloads at laboratories that participate in the Combined DNA Index System using data available from the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant Program or other sources that— (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 and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 2019 through 2024 .

Passed the Senate May 16, 2019. Julie E. Adams, Secretary

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 80 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 820 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 14, 2019 Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Ernst , Ms. McSally , Mr. Burr , Mr. Leahy , Ms. Klobuchar , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Braun , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Durbin , and Mr. Grassley ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary May 9, 2019 Reported by Mr. Graham , with amendments Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic A BILL 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 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking including and inserting prioritizing, to the extent practicable consistent with public safety considerations ; and (B) in paragraph (8), by striking including and inserting in particular, ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; 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 and inserting 2019 through 2024 ; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 2014 through 2019 and inserting 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 and inserting the following: (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 (GAO-19-216); and (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 (GAO-19-216). (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 , whichever date is later, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that— (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 , and once every 3 fiscal years thereafter through fiscal year 2025, the Comptroller General of the United States shall issue a report on the DNA analysis workloads at laboratories that participate in the Combined DNA Index System using data available from the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Grant Program or other sources that— (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 and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 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) ) is amended by striking 2015 through 2019 and inserting 2019 through 2024 .

May 9, 2019 Reported with amendments