An act to establish a system for integration of Rapid DNA instruments for use by law enforcement to reduce violent crime and reduce the current DNA analysis backlog
PL 115-50 (H.R.510), enacted 08/18/2017

131 STAT. 1001 
PUBLIC LAW 115–50—AUG. 18, 2017 
Public Law 115–50 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To establish a system for integration of Rapid DNA instruments for use by law 
enforcement to reduce violent crime and reduce the current DNA analysis backlog. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rapid DNA Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. RAPID DNA INSTRUMENTS. 
(a) STANDARDS.—Section 210303(a) of the DNA Identification 
Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14131(a)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(5)(A) In addition to issuing standards as provided in 
paragraphs (1) through (4), the Director of the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation shall issue standards and procedures for the 
use of Rapid DNA instruments and resulting DNA analyses. 
‘‘(B) In this Act, the term ‘Rapid DNA instruments’ means 
instrumentation that carries out a fully automated process 
to derive a DNA analysis from a DNA sample.’’. 
(b) INDEX.—Paragraph (2) of section 210304(b) of the DNA 
Identification Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14132(b)(2)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(2) prepared by— 
‘‘(A) laboratories that— 
‘‘(i) have been accredited by a nonprofit profes-
sional association of persons actively involved in 
forensic science that is nationally recognized within 
the forensic science community; and 
‘‘(ii) undergo external audits, not less than once 
every 2 years, that demonstrate compliance with stand-
ards established by the Director of the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation; or 
‘‘(B) criminal justice agencies using Rapid DNA 
instruments approved by the Director of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation in compliance with the standards 
and procedures issued by the Director under section 
210303(a)(5); and’’. 
SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO COLLECTION OF 
DNA IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION. 
(a) FROM CERTAIN FEDERAL OFFENDERS.—Section 3 of the DNA 
Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135a) is 
amended— 
Waiver authority. 
Definition. 
Deadline. 
Definition. 
Procedures. 
Rapid DNA Act 
of 2017. 
42 USC 13701 
note. 
Aug. 18, 2017 
[H.R. 510] 
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131 STAT. 1002 
PUBLIC LAW 115–50—AUG. 18, 2017 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 510 (S. 139): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–117 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 
May 16, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate. 
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may waive 
the requirements under this subsection if DNA samples are 
analyzed by means of Rapid DNA instruments and the results 
are included in CODIS.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) 
The 
term 
‘Rapid 
DNA 
instruments’ 
means 
instrumentation that carries out a fully automated process 
to derive a DNA analysis from a DNA sample.’’. 
(b) FROM CERTAIN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFENDERS.—Section 
4 of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 
14135b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may waive 
the requirements under this subsection if DNA samples are 
analyzed by means of Rapid DNA instruments and the results 
are included in CODIS.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) 
The 
term 
‘Rapid 
DNA 
instruments’ 
means 
instrumentation that carries out a fully automated process 
to derive a DNA analysis from a DNA sample.’’. 
Approved August 18, 2017. 
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