Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/2304

 118 STAT. 2274 PUBLIC LAW 108–405—OCT. 30, 2004 DNA technology, including increasing the identification accuracy and efficiency of DNA analysis, decreasing time and expense, and increasing portability. (b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.—The Attorney General shall make grants to appropriate entities under which research is carried out through demonstration projects involving coordinated training and commitment of resources to law enforcement agencies and key criminal justice participants to demonstrate and evaluate the use of forensic DNA technology in conjunction with other forensic tools. The demonstration projects shall include scientific evaluation of the public safety benefits, improvements to law enforcement operations, and cost effectiveness of increased collection and use of DNA evidence. (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to carry out this section. SEC. 306. NATIONAL FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMISSION. (a) APPOINTMENT.—The Attorney General shall appoint a National Forensic Science Commission (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’), composed of persons experienced in criminal justice issues, including persons from the forensic science and criminal justice communities, to carry out the responsibilities under subsection (b). (b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Commission shall— (1) assess the present and future resource needs of the forensic science community; (2) make recommendations to the Attorney General for maximizing the use of forensic technologies and techniques to solve crimes and protect the public; (3) identify potential scientific advances that may assist law enforcement in using forensic technologies and techniques to protect the public; (4) make recommendations to the Attorney General for programs that will increase the number of qualified forensic scientists available to work in public crime laboratories; (5) disseminate, through the National Institute of Justice, best practices concerning the collection and analyses of forensic evidence to help ensure quality and consistency in the use of forensic technologies and techniques to solve crimes and protect the public; (6) examine additional issues pertaining to forensic science as requested by the Attorney General; (7) examine Federal, State, and local privacy protection statutes, regulations, and practices relating to access to, or use of, stored DNA samples or DNA analyses, to determine whether such protections are sufficient; (8) make specific recommendations to the Attorney General, as necessary, to enhance the protections described in paragraph (7) to ensure— (A) the appropriate use and dissemination of DNA information; (B) the accuracy, security, and confidentiality of DNA information; (C) the timely removal and destruction of obsolete, expunged, or inaccurate DNA information; and 42 USC 14136c. Grants.

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