| 1 | 1 | | 81R7521 KEL-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Driver H.B. No. 1781 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to the establishment of the Texas Forensic Science Academy |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | as a program of the Texas Engineering Extension Service of The Texas |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | A&M University System. |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Subchapter K to read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS FORENSIC SCIENCE ACADEMY |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 88.821. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "academy" |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | means the Texas Forensic Science Academy. |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | Sec. 88.822. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACADEMY. The Texas Forensic |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | Science Academy is established as a law enforcement extension |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | training program of the Texas Engineering Extension Service. |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | Sec. 88.823. PURPOSES OF ACADEMY. The purposes of the |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | academy are to: |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (1) support the need for trained state and local law |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | enforcement personnel, prosecutors, public defenders, and judges |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | in the criminal justice system of this state; and |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (2) achieve accuracy and equity in the criminal |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | justice system of this state. |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | Sec. 88.824. DUTIES OF ACADEMY. (a) The academy shall |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | provide, through extension courses, online courses, workshops, |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | seminars, and other appropriate means, comprehensive and technical |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | training and education focused on science-based best practices for |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | proper crime scene investigation and for the collection and |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | preservation of forensic evidence and the presentation of that |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | evidence in court. |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (b) The academy shall consult with state and local law |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | enforcement agencies, prosecutors, public defenders, and judges in |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | this state as necessary to ensure that the curriculum and practices |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | of the academy are consistent with the needs of the criminal justice |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | system of this state. |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | Sec. 88.825. PERSONNEL. The Texas Engineering Extension |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | Service may employ a director and other personnel necessary to |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | administer this subchapter. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
|---|