[115th Congress Public Law 50]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 131 STAT. 1001]]

Public Law 115-50
115th Congress

                                 An Act


 
 To establish a system for integration of Rapid DNA instruments for use 
 by law enforcement to reduce violent crime and reduce the current DNA 
        analysis backlog. <<NOTE: Aug. 18, 2017 -  [H.R. 510]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Rapid DNA Act of 
2017. 42 USC 13701 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rapid DNA Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. RAPID DNA INSTRUMENTS.

    (a) Standards.--Section 210303(a) of the DNA Identification Act of 
1994 (42 U.S.C. 14131(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5)(A) <<NOTE: Procedures.>>  In addition to issuing 
        standards as provided in paragraphs (1) through (4), the 
        Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall issue 
        standards and procedures for the use of Rapid DNA instruments 
        and resulting DNA analyses.
            ``(B) <<NOTE: Definition.>>  In this Act, the term `Rapid 
        DNA instruments' means instrumentation that carries out a fully 
        automated process to derive a DNA analysis from a DNA sample.''.

    (b) Index.--Paragraph (2) of section 210304(b) of the DNA 
Identification Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14132(b)(2)) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(2) prepared by--
                    ``(A) laboratories that--
                          ``(i) have been accredited by a nonprofit 
                      professional association of persons actively 
                      involved in forensic science that is nationally 
                      recognized within the forensic science community; 
                      and
                          ``(ii) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  undergo external 
                      audits, not less than once every 2 years, that 
                      demonstrate compliance with standards established 
                      by the Director of the Federal Bureau of 
                      Investigation; or
                    ``(B) criminal justice agencies using Rapid DNA 
                instruments approved by the Director of the Federal 
                Bureau of Investigation in compliance with the standards 
                and procedures issued by the Director under section 
                210303(a)(5); and''.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: Waiver authority. Definition.>>  CONFORMING 
                    AMENDMENTS RELATING TO COLLECTION OF DNA 
                    IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION.

    (a) From Certain Federal Offenders.--Section 3 of the DNA Analysis 
Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135a) is amended--

[[Page 131 STAT. 1002]]

            (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: 
        ``The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may waive 
        the requirements under this subsection if DNA samples are 
        analyzed by means of Rapid DNA instruments and the results are 
        included in CODIS.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) The term `Rapid DNA instruments' means instrumentation 
        that carries out a fully automated process to derive a DNA 
        analysis from a DNA sample.''.

    (b) From Certain District of Columbia Offenders.--Section 4 of the 
DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14135b) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: 
        ``The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may waive 
        the requirements under this subsection if DNA samples are 
        analyzed by means of Rapid DNA instruments and the results are 
        included in CODIS.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) The term `Rapid DNA instruments' means instrumentation 
        that carries out a fully automated process to derive a DNA 
        analysis from a DNA sample.''.

    Approved August 18, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 510 (S. 139):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-117 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
            May 16, considered and passed House.
            Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate.

                                  <all>