Source: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/October62017/Adopted%20Rules/37.PUBLIC%20SAFETY%20AND%20CORRECTIONS.html
Timestamp: 2018-01-17 05:10:30
Document Index: 716816168

Matched Legal Cases: ['§651', 'art. 38', '§4', '§651', '§4', '§651', '§651', '§4', '§651', '§651', '§651', '§651', '§651', '§651', '§651']

The Texas Forensic Science Commission ("Commission") adopts amendments to 37 TAC §§651.1 - 651.10 to edit and correct internal rule citations, statutory citations and heading titles and to add fire scene investigation including but not limited to cause and origin determinations to its list of forensic disciplines exempt from Commission accreditation requirements. The amendments are necessary to correct references to rules and statutes, to modify headings so they are accurate, and to add fire scene investigation to the Commission’s list of forensic disciplines exempt from accreditation requirements.
The amendments are adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the June 16, 2017, issue of the Texas Register (42 TexReg 3126). All changes reflect rule adoptions made by the Commission at its May 26, 2017, quarterly meeting and were made pursuant to Tex. Code Crim. Procedure art. 38.01 §4-d, which mandates the Commission establish an accreditation process for crime laboratories and other entities conducting forensic analyses of physical evidence for use in criminal proceedings.
Summary of Comments. No comments were received regarding the edits and amendments to these sections, but two additional, non-substantive edits to proposed rules §651.1 - 651.10 were made--1) references to the recognized accrediting body American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) were changed throughout to read "ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)" due to a change in corporate structure of the organization and 2) references to "subdiscipline" or "subdisciplines" were changed to read "categories of analysis" to harmonize the Commission’s rules with the way accrediting bodies use the reference.
Statutory Authority. The amendments are adopted under Article 38.01 §4-d, Code of Criminal Procedure.
Cross reference to statute. The adoption affects 37 TAC §§651.1 - 651.10.
(2) the accreditation by the Commission of a crime laboratory or other entity conducting forensic analyses of physical evidence for use in criminal proceedings.
(c) Source of evidence predicate. The Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 38.35, requires Commission accreditation of a crime laboratory or other entity for admission of evidence or testimony if the crime laboratory or other entity conducts a forensic analysis of physical evidence for use in a criminal proceeding.
(4) Crime Laboratory--Includes a public or private laboratory or other entity that conducts forensic analysis as set forth in Article 38.35, Code of Criminal Procedure. The term includes a forensic DNA laboratory and a CODIS user laboratory.
(4) College of American Pathologists (CAP)--recognized for accreditation of toxicology discipline.
(3) Forensic Biology. Categories of analysis may include one or more of the following categories: collection, DNA-STR, DNA-YSTR, DNA-Mitochondrial, DNA-SNP, body fluid identification, relationship testing, microbiology, and individual characteristic database;
(6) Materials (Trace). Categories of analysis may include one or more of the following categories: collection, physical determination, chemical determination, physical/chemical comparison, product (make/model) determination, gunshot residue (collection and qualitative determination), and fire debris and explosives (qualitative determination); or
§651.6.Forensic Disciplines and Procedures to Which Commission Accreditation Does Not Apply by Statute.
This section describes a discipline, category of analysis, or procedure that is excluded from the definition of forensic analysis or otherwise exempted by the Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 38.35. No crime laboratory accreditation is currently required for the following disciplines:
(3) digital evidence (including computer forensics, audio, or imaging); or
(4) an examination or test excluded by rule under Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 38.01 §4-d(c) and set forth in this subchapter.
§651.7.Forensic Disciplines and Procedures Exempt from Commission Accreditation Requirements by Administrative Rule.
(12) other discipline or category of analysis so determined by the Commission, including those identified and listed at the Commission’s website.
(b) A request for exemption shall be submitted in writing to the Commission.
(c) This subsection describes a discipline, category of analysis, or procedure that does not normally involve forensic analysis of physical evidence for use in a criminal proceeding and for which recognized accreditation is inappropriate or unavailable. Accordingly, accreditation is not required for the following:
§651.8.Full Commission Accreditation.
(2) each document provided by the recognized accrediting body that identifies the discipline or category of analysis for which the laboratory has received accreditation and any limitation or restriction regarding that accreditation.
(1) If accredited by ANAB, a laboratory shall provide the Commission with a copy of each Annual Accreditation Review Report. If accredited by another recognized accrediting body, a laboratory shall provide the Commission with a copy of each equivalent annual accreditation assessment document. The copy shall be submitted to the Commission at the same time that it is due to the recognized accrediting body.
(3) A laboratory that discontinues a specific forensic discipline or category of analysis:
(e) Federal forensic laboratories. A federal forensic laboratory is deemed to be accredited by the Commission without application provided that the laboratory is accredited by a recognized accrediting body as provided under §651.4 of this subchapter (relating to List of Recognized Accrediting Bodies). A laboratory deemed accredited is not subject to the reporting requirements of this subchapter or the processes provided under Subchapter B of this chapter (relating to Complaints, Special Review, and Administrative Action).
(a) Issuance and renewal. The Commission may issue provisional accreditation under this section that is non-renewable for that discipline, category of analysis, or procedure.
(b) Application. An applicant for provisional Commission accreditation shall complete and submit to the Commission a current Laboratory Accreditation Form as referenced in §651.8(b) of this subchapter (relating to Full Commission Accreditation) and attach copies of the following:
(4) each document provided by the recognized accrediting body that identifies the discipline or category of analysis for which the laboratory seeks accreditation.
(c) Provisional-Interim. If a laboratory is in good standing with its accrediting body and has made application to renew or replace its accreditation, the laboratory may apply for Provisional Commission Accreditation if necessary to cover a period between times that it qualifies for full Commission accreditation. For this Provisional Commission Accreditation, the laboratory may complete and submit to the Commission a current Laboratory Accreditation Form as referenced in §651.8(b) of this subchapter and attach copies of the following:
(3) A laboratory that discontinues a specific forensic discipline, category of analysis, or procedure shall submit written notification to the Commission at least 30 days before the effective date of the discontinuation.
(2) extends until withdrawn by the recognized accrediting body or by the Commission under §651.11 of this subchapter (relating to Withdrawal of Commission Accreditation).
(1) A laboratory that applies for accreditation from a recognized accrediting body may apply to the Commission for provisional accreditation in accordance with §651.9 of this subchapter (relating to Provisional Commission Accreditation) for a term not to exceed one year from the date the Commission issues the accreditation unless formally extended for good cause by the Commission.
TRD-201703673
Effective date: October 8, 2017