[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 4552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2138]



[[Page 4552]]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Federal Bureau of Investigation


DNA Advisory Board Meeting

    Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
notice is hereby given that the DNA Advisory Board (DAB) will meet on 
February 20, 1997, from 1:30 pm until 5:00 pm and February 22, 1997, 
from 8:30 am until 12:00 pm at the Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, New 
York City, New York 10036. All attendees will be admitted only after 
displaying personal identification which bears a photograph of the 
attendee.
    The DAB's scope of authority is: To develop, and if appropriate, 
periodically revise, recommended standards for quality assurance to the 
Director of the FBI, including standards for testing the proficiency of 
forensic laboratories, and forensic analysts, in conducting analysis of 
DNA; To recommend standards to the Director of the FBI which specify 
criteria for quality assurance and proficiency tests to be applied to 
the various types of DNA analysis used by forensic laboratories, 
including statistical and population genetics issues affecting the 
evaluation of the frequency of occurrence of DNA profiles calculated 
from pertinent population database(s); To recommend standards for 
acceptance of DNA profiles in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System 
(CODIS) which take account of relevant privacy, law enforcement and 
technical issues; and, To make recommendations for a system for grading 
proficiency testing performance to determine whether a laboratory is 
performing acceptably.
    The purposes of the meeting on February 20 are to review minutes 
from the January 1997 meeting and allow for public comment on draft 
quality assurance standards for forensic DNA analysis. At the February 
22 meeting, the Board will consider and vote on any changes to the 
draft standards, and then vote to recommend DNA analysis standards to 
the FBI Director.
    These meetings are open to the public on a first-come, first seated 
basis. Anyone wishing to address the DAB must notify the Designated 
Federal Employee (DFE) in writing at least twenty-four hours before the 
DAB meets. The notification must include the requestor's name, 
organizational affiliation, a short statement describing the topic to 
be addressed, and the amount of time requested. Oral statements to the 
DAB will be limited to five minutes and limited to subject matter 
directly related to the DAB's agenda, unless otherwise permitted by the 
Chairman.
    Any member of the public may file a written statement for the 
record concerning the DAB and its work before or after the meeting. 
Written statements for the record will be furnished to each DAB member 
for their considerations and will be included in the official minutes 
of a DAB meeting. Written statements must be type-written on 8\1/2\'' 
x  11'' xerographic weight paper, one side only, and bound only by a 
paper clip (not stapled). All pages must be numbered. Statements should 
include the Name, Organizational Affiliation, Address, and Telephone 
number of the author(s). Written statements for the record will be 
included in minutes of the meeting immediately following the receipt of 
the written statement, unless the statement is received within three 
weeks of the meeting. Under this circumstance, the written statement 
will be included with the minutes of the following meeting. Written 
statements for the record should be submitted to the DFE.
    Inquiries may be addressed to the DFE, Dr. Randall S. Murch, Chief, 
Scientific Analysis Section, Laboratory Division, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, J. Edgar Hoover Building, Room 3266, 935 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D. C. 20535-0001, (202) 324-4416, FAX 
(202) 324-1462.

    Dated: January 22, 1997.
Randall S. Murch,
Chief, Scientific Analysis Section, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
[FR Doc. 97-2138 Filed 1-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-02-P