Bill Text: TX HB4628 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the duties of law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, and the Department of Public Safety following the performance of certain DNA profile comparisons.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-13 - Effective on 9/1/23 [HB4628 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4628-Engrossed.html
 
 
  By: Goldman H.B. No. 4628
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the duties of law enforcement agencies, crime
  laboratories, and the Department of Public Safety following the
  performance of certain DNA profile comparisons.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 420.043, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  Not later than the seventh day after the date the
  department performs a comparison of DNA profiles required under
  Subsection (a), the department shall notify the accredited crime
  laboratory that analyzed the evidence collection kit containing
  biological evidence whether the comparison of the DNA profile
  obtained from the biological evidence to DNA profiles contained in
  the databases described by Subsections (a)(1) and (2) resulted in
  any matches. 
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B-1, Chapter 420, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 420.0431 and 420.0432 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 420.0431.  DUTIES FOLLOWING DATABASE DNA MATCH. (a) If
  a match that may assist in the investigation of a criminal case is
  identified under Section 402.043 between biological evidence
  contained in an evidence collection kit and a DNA profile contained
  in a database described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) of that section,
  on request of the accredited crime laboratory that performed the
  analysis of the evidence collection kit, a law enforcement agency
  that submitted the evidence collection kit to the crime laboratory
  shall, not later than the fifth business day after the date the
  request is made, provide any additional information requested by
  the crime laboratory concerning the match. 
         (b)  Not later than the 60th business day after the crime
  laboratory receives written notification that a match that may aid
  in the investigation of a criminal case has been identified under
  Section 402.043 between biological evidence contained in an
  evidence collection kit and a DNA profile contained in a database
  described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) of that section, written
  notification must be provided to the law enforcement agency that
  submitted the evidence collection kit of:
               (1)  any case-to-case match that may assist in the
  investigation of a criminal case; and
               (2)  any verified match that identifies a suspect or
  offender.
         (c)  Verification of a match identifying an offender under
  Subsection (b)(2) may be expedited in cases involving a significant
  public safety concern. 
         (d)  Not later than the fifth business day after receiving a
  notification under Subsection (b)(1), the law enforcement agency
  shall acknowledge receipt of the notification.
         (e)  Not later than the 30th business day after the date a law
  enforcement agency receives a notification of a verified match
  under Subsection (b)(2), the law enforcement agency shall attempt
  to collect a DNA sample from an identified suspect or offender and
  submit the sample to an accredited crime laboratory for analysis.
         Sec. 420.0432.  SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION CONCERNING DATABASE
  DNA MATCH.  (a) If, with respect to a sexual assault or other sex
  offense, a match is identified under Section 420.043 between
  biological evidence contained in an evidence collection kit and a
  DNA profile contained in a database described by Subsection (a)(1)
  or (2) of that section, the law enforcement agency with
  jurisdiction over the offense shall, not later than the fifth
  business day after the law enforcement agency receives notification
  of the match, notify the survivor, as applicable, of:
               (1)  the match, if disclosing the match would not
  interfere with the investigation or prosecution of the offense; or
               (2)  the estimated date on which the match is expected
  to be disclosed, if disclosing the match would interfere with the
  investigation or prosecution of the offense.
         (b)  If a law enforcement agency is unable to notify a
  survivor under Subsection (a) within the period required by that
  subsection, the agency shall continue to make reasonable efforts to
  notify the survivor.
         SECTION 3.  Section 420.043, Government Code, as amended by
  this Act, and Section 420.0431, Government Code, as added by this
  Act, apply only to the comparison of DNA profiles that is performed
  on or after the effective date of this Act. A comparison of DNA
  profiles performed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the comparison was
  performed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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