34 U.S.C. § 40725 — National Forensic Science Commission

(a) Appointment The Attorney General must appoint a National Forensic Science Commission, made up of people experienced in criminal justice, including people from the forensic science and criminal justice fields, to carry out the duties listed in subsection (b). (b) Responsibilities The Commission must: 1. Assess what the forensic science community needs now and in the future. 2. Recommend to the Attorney General ways to make the best use of forensic technology to solve crimes and protect the public. 3. Identify scientific advances that could help law enforcement use forensic tools to protect the public. 4. Recommend programs that would train more qualified forensic scientists to work in public crime labs. 5. Share best practices for collecting and analyzing forensic evidence, through the National Institute of Justice, to keep quality and consistency high. 6. Look into other forensic science issues the Attorney General asks it to examine. 7. Examine federal, state, and local privacy laws, rules, and practices covering access to and use of stored DNA samples and DNA analyses, to see if they protect people enough. 8. Recommend specific ways the Attorney General can strengthen those privacy protections, to ensure: (A) DNA information is used and shared appropriately; (B) DNA information stays accurate, secure, and confidential; (C) outdated, expunged, or inaccurate DNA information is removed and destroyed promptly; and (D) any other steps needed to protect privacy are taken. 9. Serve as a place where people can exchange and share ideas related to goals (1) through (8). (c) Personnel; procedures The Attorney General must pick the Commission's Chair from among its members, assign any staff the Commission needs, and set up the Commission's procedures and guidelines. (d) Authorization of appropriations Congress authorized $500,000 for each fiscal year from 2005 through 2009 to carry out this section.