SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1071        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1204

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia S. Creem

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the forensic sciences advisory board.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1071        FILED ON: 1/20/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1204

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to the forensic sciences advisory board.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

                SECTION 1.   Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 184A and inserting the following new section:- 

                There shall be in the executive office of public safety and security a forensic sciences advisory board, hereinafter called the board, which shall advise the secretary on all aspects of the administration and delivery of criminal forensic sciences in the commonwealth. The board shall consist of the undersecretary for forensic sciences, who shall also serve as chairperson of the board, the attorney general, the colonel of the state police, the president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the president of the Massachusetts Urban Chiefs Association, the president of the Massachusetts District Attorney's Association, a district attorney designated by the Massachusetts District Attorney's Association, the commissioner of the department of public health and the Chief Counsel of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, or their respective designees, three scientists, experienced in delivery, management or oversight of scientific services, one of whom shall be a forensic scientist with practical experience in an accredited crime lab, one of whom shall have a specialty in the natural or biological sciences and one of whom shall have a specialty in the physical sciences, and two members of the bar with experience in criminal practice and forensic science issues, one  each to be appointed on recommendation of the  Massachusetts Bar Association and Boston Bar Association. The members shall serve without compensation, except that, with respect to the three scientists, reasonable travel expenses may be paid for the purpose of attending meetings.  Each appointed member shall serve for a term of three years or until a successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is longer.  The board shall meet no less than quarterly and as otherwise convened by the undersecretary. The board shall coordinate its responsibilities with the medico-legal investigation commission and shall not infringe upon the commission's authority as established in section 184 of this chapter.

                At the direction of the board, the undersecretary for forensic sciences shall advise the board on the administration and delivery of forensic services in the commonwealth. The undersecretary shall include in his report information as the board requests, including but not limited to the volume of forensic services required for each county, including costs and the length of time from submission for testing or procedures and return of results; the capacity of the commonwealth's forensic services and funding requirements; the accreditation of forensic facilities and training of personnel; facilities expansion, including location and funding for a new state police crime lab; and partnerships with other public and private forensic services. The undersecretary shall make recommendations for the allocation of resources and expansion of services, and on an annual basis, submit budget recommendations to the secretary of public safety and security and the board.