DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 275 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Duplessis
Abstract: Extends the time period for filing an application for post-conviction relief DNA testing
and for preservation of evidence, and changes the accreditation entity for the crime
laboratories performing post-conviction DNA testing.
Present law provides for the rules for post-conviction relief and generally requires all applications
to be filed within two years after the judgment of conviction and sentence have become final.
Present law creates an exception to the time period for filing an application for post-conviction relief
by allowing petitioners until Aug. 31, 2019, to seek post-conviction DNA testing.
Proposed law extends the time period for petitioners seeking post-conviction DNA testing to Aug.
31, 2024.
Present law additionally requires that once an application for DNA testing is served on the district
attorney and the law enforcement agency in possession of the evidence to be tested, the clerks of
court of each parish and all law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to district attorneys,
sheriffs, the office of state police, local police agencies, and crime laboratories are to preserve until
Aug. 31, 2019, all items of evidence in their possession which are known to contain biological
material that can be subjected to DNA testing, in all cases that, as of Aug. 15, 2001, have been
concluded by a verdict of guilty or a plea of guilty.
Proposed law extends the time period for the preservation of all items of evidence until Aug. 31,
2024.
Present law provides that for purposes of DNA testing, crime laboratories shall be accredited by the
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB).
Proposed law changes the accreditation for the crime laboratories to those accredited by an
accrediting body that is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual
Recognition Arrangements for Testing Laboratories (ILAC MRA) and requires conformance to an
accreditation program based on the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 with an accreditation
scope in the field of forensic science testing in the discipline of biology, and that is compliant with
the current version of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic
DNA Testing Laboratories.
Present law provides for the creation of the DNA Testing Post-Conviction Relief for Indigents Fund
in the state treasury to be administered by the La. Indigent Defense Assistance Board. Proposed law changes the La. Indigent Defense Assistance Board to the La. Public Defender Board.
(Amends C.Cr.P. Art. 926.1(A), (F), (H)(3) and (5), and (K)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal
Justice to the original bill:
1. With respect to the time period in which to file an application for post-conviction DNA
testing, extend the present law time period of Aug. 31, 2019, to Aug. 31, 2024, rather
than remove the time period.
2. With respect to the time period for the preservation of all items of evidence that contain
biological material, extend the present law time period of Aug. 31, 2019, to Aug. 31,
2024, rather than remove the time period.