Sec. 202. Standards for laboratory accreditation
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Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with qualified professional organizations, submit to the Director recommendations regarding standards for the accreditation of forensic science laboratories, including quality assurance and quality control standards, to ensure the quality, integrity, and accuracy of any testing, analysis, identification, or comparisons performed by a forensic science laboratory for use during the course of a criminal investigation or criminal court proceeding.
After the Director receives the recommendations of the Board under paragraph (1), the Director shall, in accordance with section 101(f)(3), establish standards for the accreditation of forensic science laboratories. In recommending or establishing standards under paragraph
(1)or
(2)the Board and the Director shall— consider— whether any relevant national or international accreditation standards that were in effect before the date of enactment of this Act would be sufficient for the accreditation of forensic science laboratories under this Act; whether any relevant national or international accreditation standards that were in effect before the date of enactment of this Act would be sufficient for the accreditation of forensic science laboratories under this Act with supplemental standards; and the incorporation of relevant national or international accreditation standards that were in effect before the date of enactment of this Act; and include— educational and training requirements for relevant laboratory personnel; proficiency and competency testing requirements for relevant laboratory personnel; and maintenance and auditing requirements for accredited forensic science laboratories. Not less frequently than once every 5 years— the Board shall— review the scope and effectiveness of the accreditation standards established under subsection (a); submit recommendations to the Director relating to whether, and if so, how to update or supplement the standards as necessary to— account for developments in relevant scientific research, technological advances, and new forensic science disciplines; ensure adherence to the standards and best practices established under title V; and address any other issue identified during the course of the review conducted under clause (i); and the Director shall, as necessary and in accordance with section 101(f)(3), update the accreditation standards established under subsection (a). The Director, in consultation with the Board, shall establish procedures to ensure that the process for developing, reviewing, and updating accreditation standards under this section— is open and transparent to the public; and includes an opportunity for the public to comment on proposed standards with sufficient prior notice.