Texas Code of Criminal Procedure

§ 38.01 — TEXAS FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMISSION

CR § 38.01Title 1. CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · Ch. 38. EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL ACTIONS

Statute text

Sec. 1. CREATION. The Texas Forensic Science Commission is created. Sec. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this article:

(1)"Accredited field of forensic science" means a specific forensic method or methodology validated or approved by the commission under this article.

(2)"Commission" means the Texas Forensic Science Commission.

(3)"Crime laboratory" has the meaning assigned by Article 38.35. (3-a) "DNA QA database" means a database maintained by a crime laboratory and used to identify possible contamination or other quality assurance events with respect to a DNA sample. (3-b) "Elimination sample" means a blood sample or other biological sample or specimen voluntarily provided by the victim of an offense or another individual not involved in the alleged offense whose DNA is likely to be present at the scene of the crime to isolate and identify the DNA of a potential perpetrator.

(4)"Forensic analysis" means a medical, chemical, toxicologic, ballistic, or other expert examination or test performed on physical evidence, including DNA evidence, for the purpose of determining the connection of the evidence to a criminal action, except that the term does not include the portion of an autopsy conducted by a medical examiner or other forensic pathologist who is a licensed physician. (4-a) "Forensic examination or test not subject to accreditation" means an examination or test described by Article 38.35(a)(4)(A), (B), (C), or (D) that is exempt from accreditation.

(5)"Office of capital and forensic writs" means the office of capital and forensic writs established under Subchapter B, Chapter 78, Government Code.

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Legislative history

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 782 (S.B. 1238), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 782 (S.B. 1238), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 782 (S.B. 1238), Sec. 3, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 782 (S.B. 1238), Sec. 4, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1215 (S.B. 1743), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1215 (S.B. 1743), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1276 (S.B. 1287), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1276 (S.B. 1287), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1276 (S.B. 1287), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1276 (S.B. 1287), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1276 (S.B. 1287), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1276 (S.B. 1287), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1276 (S.B. 1287), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 212 (S.B. 1124), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 24.001(4), eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1115 (S.B. 298), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 574 (S.B. 284), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 3774), Sec. 10.01, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 3774), Sec. 10.02, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 3774), Sec. 10.03, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 3774), Sec. 10.04, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 3774), Sec. 10.05, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 3774), Sec. 10.06, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 742 (H.B. 3506), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 742 (H.B. 3506), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 3474), Sec. 12.004, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1149 (S.B. 991), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.