HF 1642

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/20/2013 10:41am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; requiring that forensic laboratories be accredited and
that information related to this be posted on the Internet; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299C.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [299C.157] FORENSIC LABORATORIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given:
new text end

new text begin (1) "forensic analysis" means the application of scientific knowledge and
methodology by an individual who:
new text end

new text begin (i) has or should have specialized training and utilizes standardized procedures to
conduct examinations on items of evidence;
new text end

new text begin (ii) forms an opinion or conclusion based on the outcome of the procedure under
item (i) and the individual's training, experience, or both, and writes a report including
the individual's conclusions; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) has the potential to offer expert testimony of the individual's analysis in a court
of law; and
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new text begin (2) "forensic laboratory" means a publicly financed laboratory within the state that
conducts forensic analysis on items of evidence that are part of or have the potential to be
used in a criminal investigation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Forensic laboratories; mandatory accreditation; posting on Web
site. new text end

new text begin A forensic laboratory operating on or after January 1, 2014, must be accredited by
the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board
(ASCLD/LAB), or other accrediting body that requires conformance to standards for
testing laboratories established by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO/IEC 17025). A forensic laboratory must forward to the commissioner of public
safety copies of the laboratory's certificate of accreditation and scope of accreditation. The
commissioner shall post these documents on the department's Web site.
new text end