[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2623 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2623

   To require States to conduct DNA tests to ascertain the degree of 
 genetic relatedness between two or more persons in accordance with a 
                           national standard.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 25, 2005

 Mr. Andrews introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require States to conduct DNA tests to ascertain the degree of 
 genetic relatedness between two or more persons in accordance with a 
                           national standard.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. REQUIREMENT THAT STATES CONDUCT DNA TESTS TO ASCERTAIN THE 
              DEGREE OF GENETIC RELATEDNESS BETWEEN TWO OR MORE PERSONS 
              IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL STANDARD.

    (a) In General.--Section 474 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
674) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g)(1) If, during a fiscal year, the Secretary finds that a State 
operating a program under a State plan approved under this part does 
not have in effect such laws and procedures as may be necessary to 
ensure that every DNA test conducted pursuant to an order of a court of 
the State for the purpose of ascertaining the degree of genetic 
relatedness between 2 or more persons is conducted in accordance with 
the standards developed in accordance with paragraph (2), or (if such 
laws and procedures are in effect) that such a State has not complied 
with such a law or procedure in conducting such a test, the Secretary 
shall reduce the amount otherwise payable to the State under subsection 
(a)(1) for the fiscal year by an amount equal to 10 percent of the 
otherwise payable amount.
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations governing the 
conduct of DNA tests referred to in paragraph (1). The regulations 
shall include the requirement that the tests be conducted only by an 
entity accredited by the Secretary in accordance with subparagraph (B) 
to conduct such a test.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall not accredit an entity to conduct DNA 
tests referred to in paragraph (1) unless the entity certifies to the 
Secretary that each employee of the entity who is responsible for 
performing a function relating to such a test has successfully 
completed training in conducting DNA tests in accordance with the 
regulations prescribed under this paragraph.''.
    (b) Regulations.--
            (1) Issuance.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe the 
        regulations required by section 474(g) of the Social Security 
        Act (as added by the amendment made by subsection (a) of this 
        section).
            (2) Effective date.--The regulations referred to in 
        paragraph (1) shall take effect 6 months after issuance.
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