SF 1269

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 09/11/2013 03:32pm

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.
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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:
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new text begin (1) "forensic analysis" means the application of scientific knowledge and
methodology by an individual who:
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new text begin (i) has or should have specialized training and utilizes standardized procedures to
conduct examinations on items of evidence;
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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
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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.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Forensic laboratories; mandatory accreditation; posting on Web site.
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new text begin (a) A forensic laboratory operating on or after January 1, 2014, must: (1) 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) and the supplemental standards applicable to forensic laboratories
developed by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperative (ILAC); or (2)
have begun the formal process of seeking accreditation under clause (1) and follow the
standards necessary for accreditation.
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new text begin (b) No forensic laboratory may operate on or after July 1, 2015, unless it is
accredited as provided in paragraph (a).
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new text begin (c) A forensic laboratory must forward to the commissioner of public safety copies
of the laboratory's certificate of accreditation and scope of accreditation or an affirmation
that the laboratory is in compliance with paragraph (a), clause (2). The commissioner shall
post these items on the department's Web site.
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