Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5293 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R15785 AJZ-F
2	2	By: Bonnen H.B. No. 5293
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the establishment of the Texas forensic analyst
10	10	apprenticeship pilot program.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Chapter 72, Government Code, is amended by
13	13	adding Subchapter H to read as follows:
14	14	SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS FORENSIC ANALYST APPRENTICESHIP PILOT PROGRAM
15	15	Sec. 72.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
16	16	(1) "Accredited crime laboratory" means a crime
17	17	laboratory, as that term is defined by Article 38.35, Code of
18	18	Criminal Procedure, that has been accredited under Article 38.01 of
19	19	that code.
20	20	(2) "Commission" means the Texas Forensic Science
21	21	Commission.
22	22	(3) "Pilot program" means the Texas forensic analyst
23	23	apprenticeship pilot program established under this subchapter.
24	24	Sec. 72.202. TEXAS FORENSIC ANALYST APPRENTICESHIP PILOT
25	25	PROGRAM. (a) The office shall establish the Texas forensic analyst
26	26	apprenticeship pilot program to increase the forensic science
27	27	workforce capacity in this state. The office shall collaborate with
28	28	the commission as necessary to administer the pilot program.
29	29	(b) To implement the pilot program, the office shall enter
30	30	into contracts with:
31	31	(1) the Center for Human Identification at the
32	32	University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth for
33	33	the purpose of creating a unified forensic biology (DNA) training
34	34	program;
35	35	(2) the Institute for Forensic Research, Training, and
36	36	Innovation at Sam Houston State University for the purpose of
37	37	creating a unified drug chemistry and toxicology training program;
38	38	(3) the Department of Statistics at Texas A&M
39	39	University for the purpose of creating a unified firearms
40	40	comparison training program; and
41	41	(4) each publicly funded accredited crime laboratory
42	42	that is awarded an apprentice position by the commission under
43	43	Section 72.203.
44	44	Sec. 72.203. FORENSIC ANALYST APPRENTICE POSITIONS; RULES.
45	45	(a) In consultation with the office, the commission by rule shall
46	46	adopt eligibility requirements for:
47	47	(1) individuals who may apply for an apprentice
48	48	position under the pilot program; and
49	49	(2) publicly funded accredited crime laboratories
50	50	that may apply to sponsor an apprentice under the pilot program.
51	51	(b) In establishing the eligibility requirements under
52	52	Subsection (a), the commission shall prioritize the long-term
53	53	retention of forensic analysts in accredited crime laboratories in
54	54	this state.
55	55	(c) The commission shall award apprentice positions to
56	56	individuals and accredited crime laboratories that meet the
57	57	eligibility requirements established under Subsection (a). The
58	58	commission shall enter into contracts with the laboratories
59	59	selected to sponsor apprentices under the pilot program.
60	60	(d) The commission shall:
61	61	(1) consult with the Texas Association of Crime Lab
62	62	Directors to determine the current need for forensic analyst
63	63	apprentices in each forensic discipline; and
64	64	(2) in consultation with the office, adopt rules
65	65	regarding the required training curricula for the forensic science
66	66	training programs described by Sections 72.202(b)(1), (2), and (3).
67	67	Sec. 72.204. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September
68	68	1, 2030.
69	69	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.