Bill Text: NY S00735 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to the processing of evidence related to sexual offenses and the inclusion of such results in the state DNA identification index; requires evidence of sexual offenses to be collected and forwarded to any forensic DNA laboratory for testing within the established time frame.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY [S00735 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-S00735-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 735 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 6, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sens. PARKER, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Internet and Technology AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the processing of evidence related to sexual offenses and the inclusion of such results in the state DNA identification index The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 9 of section 995 of the executive law, 2 as added by chapter 737 of the laws of 1994, are amended to read as 3 follows: 4 2. For purposes of forensic DNA analysis, the term "forensic DNA labo- 5 ratory" shall mean any forensic laboratory operated by the state or unit 6 of local government, that performs forensic DNA testing on crime scenes, 7 forensic testing on evidence of sexual offenses or materials derived 8 from the human body for use as evidence in a criminal proceeding or for 9 purposes of identification and the term "forensic DNA testing" shall 10 mean any test that employs techniques to examine deoxyribonucleic acid 11 (DNA) derived from the human body for the purpose of providing informa- 12 tion to resolve issues of identification. Regulation pursuant to this 13 article shall not include DNA testing on materials derived from the 14 human body pursuant to title five of article five of the public health 15 law for the purpose of determining a person's genetic disease or medical 16 condition and shall not include a laboratory operated by the federal 17 government. 18 9. "DNA subcommittee" shall mean the subcommittee on forensic DNA 19 laboratories and forensic DNA and sexual offense forensic evidence test- 20 ing established pursuant to subdivision thirteen of section nine hundred 21 ninety-five-b of this article. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02879-01-3S. 735 2 1 § 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 995-b of the executive 2 law, as added by chapter 737 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as 3 follows: 4 (b) ensure that forensic analyses, including forensic DNA testing and 5 sexual offense forensic evidence testing, are performed in accordance 6 with the highest scientific standards practicable; 7 § 3. Subdivisions 7, 11, 12 and 13 of section 995-b of the executive 8 law, as added by chapter 737 of the laws of 1994 and paragraph (a) of 9 subdivision 13 as amended by chapter 560 of the laws of 1999, are 10 amended to read as follows: 11 7. The commission and DNA subcommittee may establish, appoint, and set 12 terms of members to as many advisory councils as it deems necessary to 13 provide specialized expertise to the commission with respect to new 14 forensic technologies including DNA testing methodologies and sexual 15 offense forensic evidence testing methodologies. 16 11. Upon the recommendation of the DNA subcommittee established pursu- 17 ant to subdivision thirteen of this section, the commission shall desig- 18 nate one or more approved methodologies for the performance of forensic 19 DNA testing and sexual assault forensic evidence, and shall review and 20 act upon applications by forensic DNA laboratories for approval to 21 perform forensic DNA testing. 22 12. Promulgate standards for a determination of a match between the 23 DNA records contained in the state DNA identification index and a DNA 24 record of a person or sexual offense forensic evidence submitted for 25 comparison therewith. 26 13. (a) The commission shall establish a subcommittee on forensic DNA 27 laboratories and forensic DNA and sexual offense forensic evidence test- 28 ing. The chair of the subcommittee shall be appointed by the chair of 29 the commission. The chair of the subcommittee shall appoint six other 30 members to the subcommittee, one of whom shall represent the discipline 31 of molecular biology and be appointed upon the recommendation of the 32 commissioner of the department of health, one of whom shall represent 33 the discipline of population genetics and be appointed upon the recom- 34 mendation of the commissioner of the department of health, one of whom 35 shall be representative of the discipline of laboratory standards and 36 quality assurance regulation and monitoring and be appointed upon the 37 recommendation of the commissioner of the department of health, one of 38 whom shall be a forensic scientist and be appointed upon the recommenda- 39 tion of the commissioner of the department of health, one of whom shall 40 be representative of the discipline of population genetics and be 41 appointed upon the recommendation of the commissioner of criminal 42 justice services and one of whom shall be representative of the disci- 43 pline of forensic science and be appointed upon the recommendation of 44 the commissioner of criminal justice services. Members of the DNA 45 subcommittee shall serve for three year terms and be subject to the 46 conditions of service specified in section nine hundred ninety-five-a of 47 this article. 48 (b) The DNA subcommittee shall assess and evaluate all DNA and sexual 49 offense forensic evidence methodologies proposed to be used for forensic 50 analysis, and make reports and recommendations to the commission as it 51 deems necessary. The DNA subcommittee shall make binding recommendations 52 for adoption by the commission addressing minimum scientific standards 53 to be utilized in conducting forensic DNA and sexual offense forensic 54 evidence analysis including, but not limited to, examination of speci- 55 mens, population studies and methods employed to determine probabilities 56 and interpret test results. The DNA subcommittee may require a demon-S. 735 3 1 stration by an independent laboratory of any proposed forensic DNA or 2 sexual offense forensic evidence testing methodology proposed to be used 3 by a forensic laboratory. 4 (c) The DNA subcommittee shall make binding recommendations for 5 adoption by the commission with regard to an accreditation program for 6 laboratories performing forensic DNA and sexual offense forensic 7 evidence testing in accordance with the provisions of the state adminis- 8 trative procedure act. Such recommendations shall include the adoption 9 and implementation of internal and external proficiency testing 10 programs, including, if possible, a blind external proficiency testing 11 program for forensic laboratories performing forensic DNA and sexual 12 offense forensic evidence testing. The DNA subcommittee shall also 13 provide the commission with a list of accepted proficiency testers. 14 (d) The DNA subcommittee shall be authorized to advise the commission 15 on any other matters regarding the implementation of scientific controls 16 and quality assurance procedures for the performance of forensic DNA and 17 sexual offense forensic evidence testing, or on any other matters 18 referred to it by the commission. 19 § 4. Section 995-d of the executive law, as added by chapter 737 of 20 the laws of 1994 and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 560 of the laws 21 of 1999, is amended to read as follows: 22 § 995-d. Confidentiality. 1. All records, findings, reports, and 23 results of DNA and sexual offense forensic evidence testing performed on 24 any person shall be confidential and may not be disclosed or redisclosed 25 without the consent of the subject of such DNA or sexual offense foren- 26 sic evidence testing. Such records, findings, reports and results shall 27 not be released to insurance companies, employers or potential employ- 28 ers, health providers, employment screening or personnel companies, 29 agencies, or services, private investigation services, and may not be 30 disclosed in response to a subpoena or other compulsory legal process or 31 warrant, or upon request or order of any agency, authority, division, 32 office, corporation, partnership, or any other private or public entity 33 or person, except that nothing contained herein shall prohibit disclo- 34 sure in response to a subpoena issued on behalf of the subject of such 35 DNA or sexual offense forensic evidence record or on behalf of a party 36 in a civil proceeding where the subject of such DNA or sexual offense 37 forensic evidence record has put such record in issue. 38 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of this section, 39 records, findings, reports, and results of DNA testing, other than a DNA 40 record maintained in the state DNA identification index, may be 41 disclosed in a criminal proceeding to the court, the prosecution, and 42 the defense pursuant to a written request on a form prescribed by the 43 commissioner of the division of criminal justice services. Notwith- 44 standing the provisions of subdivision one of this section, a DNA or 45 sexual offense forensic evidence record maintained in the state DNA 46 identification index may be disclosed pursuant to section nine hundred 47 ninety-five-c of this article. 48 § 5. Section 995-e of the executive law, as added by chapter 737 of 49 the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows: 50 § 995-e. Applicability. This article shall not apply to a forensic DNA 51 laboratory operated by any agency of the federal government, or to any 52 forensic DNA test or sexual offense forensic evidence test performed by 53 any such federal laboratory. 54 § 6. Section 995-f of the executive law, as amended by chapter 560 of 55 the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:S. 735 4 1 § 995-f. Penalties. Any person who (a) intentionally discloses a DNA 2 record, [or] the results of a forensic DNA test or analysis, or the 3 result of a sexual offense forensic evidence test of analysis, to an 4 individual or agency other than one authorized to have access to such 5 records pursuant to this article or (b) intentionally uses or receives 6 DNA records, [or] the results of a forensic DNA test or analysis, or the 7 results of a sexual offense forensic evidence test of analysis, for 8 purposes other than those authorized pursuant to this article or (c) any 9 person who knowingly tampers or attempts to tamper with any DNA sample 10 [or], the collection container or sexual offense forensic evidence 11 sample without lawful authority shall be guilty of a class E felony. 12 § 7. Subdivisions 6 and 7 of section 995-c of the executive law, as 13 added by chapter 737 of the laws of 1994, are amended and a new subdivi- 14 sion 10 is added to read as follows: 15 6. DNA and sexual offense forensic evidence records contained in the 16 state DNA identification index shall be released only for the following 17 purposes: 18 (a) to a federal law enforcement agency, or to a state or local law 19 enforcement agency or district attorney's office for law enforcement 20 identification purposes upon submission of a DNA record in connection 21 with the investigation of the commission of one or more crimes or to 22 assist in the recovery or identification of specified human remains, 23 including identification of missing persons, provided that there exists 24 between the division and such agency a written agreement governing the 25 use and dissemination of such DNA records in accordance with the 26 provisions of this article; 27 (b) for criminal defense purposes, to a defendant or his or her repre- 28 sentative, who shall also have access to samples and analyses performed 29 in connection with the case in which such defendant is charged; 30 (c) after personally identifiable information has been removed by the 31 division, to an entity authorized by the division for the purpose of 32 creating or maintaining a population statistics database or for iden- 33 tification research and protocol development for forensic DNA analysis 34 or quality control purposes; and 35 (d) in the case of a victim of a sexual offense, such victim shall 36 have access to information regarding: 37 (i) whether a sexual offense forensic evidence test is performed by 38 any forensic DNA laboratory; 39 (ii) whether the result of a sexual offense forensic evidence test of 40 analysis was entered into the state DNA identification index; and 41 (iii) whether there is a match between the result of a sexual offense 42 evidence test of analysis and the state DNA identification index. 43 7. Requests for DNA and sexual offense forensic evidence records must 44 be in writing, or in a form prescribed by the division authorized by the 45 requesting party, and, other than a request pursuant to paragraph (b) of 46 subdivision six of this section, maintained on file at the state DNA 47 identification index in accordance with rules and regulations promulgat- 48 ed by the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services. 49 10. (a) The commissioner of criminal justice services, in consultation 50 with the DNA subcommittee and the commission, is hereby authorized to 51 establish a plan for the timely testing of sexual offense forensic 52 evidence and the inclusion of the results of such testing in the DNA 53 identification index pursuant to the provisions of this article. 54 (b) Any forensic evidence collected or obtained in connection with the 55 investigation of a crime or offense contained in article one hundred 56 thirty of the penal law shall be included in the state DNA identifica-S. 735 5 1 tion index pursuant to this article. This subdivision does not require a 2 forensic DNA laboratory to test all items of forensic evidence obtained 3 in a sexual offense forensic evidence examination or a sexual offense 4 investigation. For the purpose of timely processing of sexual offense 5 forensic evidence, this subdivision intends to ensure that the best 6 evidence is selected and analyzed as soon as practicable among the 7 representative sample of forensic evidence, based on the medical exam- 8 ination or the sexual offense investigation, the collection and preser- 9 vation of that evidence, and the transfer of the evidence from the 10 medical facility or the law enforcement agency to the forensic DNA labo- 11 ratory. 12 (c) (i) No later than ten business days after being booked into 13 evidence, a law enforcement agency that receives sexual offense forensic 14 evidence shall forward such evidence to any forensic DNA laboratory 15 which has been authorized by the commission to perform sexual offense 16 forensic evidence testing and analysis for inclusion in the state DNA 17 identification index. 18 (ii) Such laboratory shall perform the requisite testing and analysis 19 within three months of its receipt of the sexual offense forensic 20 evidence if sufficient staffing and resources are available. An analysis 21 shall include an examination of DNA evidence, development of a potential 22 suspect profile, and the forwarding of the resulting DNA record to the 23 state DNA identification index in accordance with the regulations of the 24 division of criminal justice services. 25 (d) The failure of a law enforcement agency to submit sexual offense 26 forensic evidence within the period required by this subdivision shall 27 not affect the authority of (i) the agency to submit the evidence to a 28 forensic DNA laboratory for analysis or (ii) of a forensic DNA laborato- 29 ry to analyze the evidence or provide the results of the analysis to the 30 appropriate agencies and the state DNA identification index. 31 (e) A law enforcement agency in possession of sexual offense forensic 32 evidence that has not been forwarded to a forensic DNA laboratory within 33 the time frame required by this subdivision shall: (i) by September 34 first of each year submit to the division of criminal justice services a 35 list of the agency's active criminal cases for which sexual offense 36 forensic evidence has not yet been forwarded to a forensic DNA laborato- 37 ry; and (ii) submit to the division of criminal justice services or a 38 forensic DNA laboratory, as appropriate and subject to the availability 39 of storage space, all sexual offense forensic evidence pertaining to 40 those active criminal cases that has not yet been submitted for lab 41 analysis within two years after the effective date of this subdivision. 42 (f) No later than one year after the effective date of this subdivi- 43 sion, the division of criminal justice services shall submit to the 44 governor and the appropriate legislative committees of the senate and 45 the assembly a request for any necessary funding to accomplish analyses 46 of sexual offense forensic evidence required by this subdivision. 47 (g) The division of criminal justice services may solicit appropriate 48 grants and funding opportunities in furtherance of the activities 49 required by this subdivision from foundations, other governmental agen- 50 cies and individuals, under such terms and conditions as the division 51 shall deem appropriate. 52 § 8. This act shall take effect September 1, 2024.
