1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; requiring that forensic laboratories be accredited and 
1.3 	that information related to this be posted on the Internet; proposing coding for 
1.4 	new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299C.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [299C.157] FORENSIC LABORATORIES.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.8 	the meanings given:
1.9 	(1) "forensic analysis" means the application of scientific knowledge and 
1.10 	methodology by an individual who:
1.11 	(i) has or should have specialized training and utilizes standardized procedures to 
1.12 	conduct examinations on items of evidence;
1.13 	(ii) forms an opinion or conclusion based on the outcome of the procedure under 
1.14 	item (i) and the individual's training, experience, or both, and writes a report including 
1.15 	the individual's conclusions; and
1.16 	(iii) has the potential to offer expert testimony of the individual's analysis in a court 
1.17 	of law; and
1.18 	(2) "forensic laboratory" means a publicly financed laboratory within the state that 
1.19 	conducts forensic analysis on items of evidence that are part of or have the potential to be 
1.20 	used in a criminal investigation.
1.21 		Subd. 2.Forensic laboratories; mandatory accreditation; posting on Web site.
 1.22 	(a) A forensic laboratory operating on or after January 1, 2014, must: (1) be accredited 
1.23 	by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board 
1.24 	(ASCLD/LAB), or other accrediting body that requires conformance to standards for 
2.1 	testing laboratories established by the International Organization for Standardization 
2.2 	(ISO/IEC 17025) and the supplemental standards applicable to forensic laboratories 
2.3 	developed by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperative (ILAC); or (2) 
2.4 	have begun the formal process of seeking accreditation under clause (1) and follow the 
2.5 	standards necessary for accreditation. 
2.6 	(b) No forensic laboratory may operate on or after July 1, 2015, unless it is 
2.7 	accredited as provided in paragraph (a).
2.8 	(c) A forensic laboratory must forward to the commissioner of public safety copies 
2.9 	of the laboratory's certificate of accreditation and scope of accreditation or an affirmation 
2.10 	that the laboratory is in compliance with paragraph (a), clause (2). The commissioner shall 
2.11 	post these items on the department's Web site.