Consortium of Forensic Science - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations(CFSO)IAI Update – 2017Matthew Gamette – ASCLD Rep/CFSO ChairKen Martin – IAI Rep/CFSO Vice ChairKen Melson – AAFS RepBeth Lavach – CFSO Lobbyist

2. The Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO) AAFSASCLDIAFNIAINAMESOFT/ABFTThe mission of the CFSO is to speak with a single forensic science voice in matters of mutual interest to its member organizations, to influence public policy at the national level and to make a compelling case for greater federal funding for public crime laboratories and medical examiner offices.

3. CFSO Highlights - 2016-2017CFSO has this year become very focused on working with governmental agencies as well as CongressWhile we voted on the priorities for this year, we have also been put in a position of having to prioritize JFAA over everything else due to political realities – other things have not been lessened just not as much activity

4. Communications:CBER update for membershipHouse and Senate JFAA Support LetterGAO Letter on DNA backlog reductionJFAA Letter of thanksCoverdell Letter and Advocacy PacketCFSO NewslettersMay 2017April 2017February 2017Summer 20162017 Jan 12 Rapid DNA introduction noticeJan 24 PCAST Report Court Decisions February 27 CFSO NewsletterMarch 7 Legislative BriefMarch 27 Hearing NoticeApril 12 OMB Plan InfoApril 14 NCFS InformationApril 19 CFSO NewsletterApril 25 and 26 Rapid DNA Legislation InfoMay 16 NewsletterMay 30 Markey/Brown Letter (INTERDICT)August 4 Rapid DNA and Budget update

5. 2016-current: Legislative Success’JFAA Coverdell, Reducing Rape Kit Backlog, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, Violence Against Women, Prison Rape Elimination, DNA R&D, Post Conviction DNA Testing, Kirk Bloodsworth, Best Practices for Evidence Retention, Needs Assessment, and other administrative mattersSurvivor’s Rights Bill Passage with our editsRapid DNA passed with our edits and rewritesCognitive bias legislation discussions and information sharing—red line of many draftsEdits of Innocence Protection Act accepted in final billFunding for OSACFunding for CoverdellLanguage in Appropriations billsHouse Hearing on the needs of Forensic Science

6. Advocacy Visits with CFSO BOD Members:Blumenthal, Brown, Carter, Chaffetz, Conyers, Cornyn, Crapo, Cruz, Culberson, Fienstein, Flake, Forbes, Gohmert, Goodlatte, Gowdy, Graham, Grassley, Hatch, Honda, Issa, Isaakson, Jackson-Lee, Kaine, Kobuchar, Franken, Labrador, Leahy, Lee, Marino, McCain, McCarthy, McConnell, Mikulski, Paul, Peters, Poe, Reed (R.I.), Risch, Ryan, Sanders, Sensenbrenner, Sessions, Shaheen, Shelby, Simpson, Smith (Lamar), Thune, Toomy, Vitter, Whitehouse, Wyden (many on multiple occasions)Majority and Minority--Senate CJS Appropriations, House CJS Appropriations, Senate Judiciary, House Judiciary, Science Committee (House and Senate) (Beth at least weekly and many times more frequently). Senate and House Commerce Committees. In-person Hill visits 2016---January (x2), February, April, May, June, August (x2), September, October, December 2017---January, February

7. JFAA EDITSEdits by CFSOTitle: Rewrite to focus on all forensic science not just DNARape Kit Backlog: Increase to 75% for direct testing grants DNA R&D researching if it has been used as funding has decreasedPost Conviction DNA Testing: supported NDAA on language to clarify information about definition of applicantKirk Bloodsworth: requested them to review to help labs that have no state or local evidence preservation laws. Best Practices: changed biological to forensicOversight and Accountability: add language to clarify that “no section of this act should be taxed more than 7.5% for admin costs”Added: a needs assessment for personnel, equipment, resources

8. Needs AssessmentSEC. 17. NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF FORENSIC LABORATORIES. (a) STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than October 1, 2018, the Attorney General shall conduct a study and submit a report to the Committee of the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of  Representatives on the status and needs of the forensic  science community. (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The report required under  subsection (a) shall— examine the status of current workload,  backlog, personnel, equipment, and equipment needs of public crime laboratories and medical examiner and coroner offices; include an overview of academic forensic science resources and needs, from a broad forensic science perspective, including non-traditional crime laboratory disciplines such as forensic anthropology, forensic entomology, and others as determined appropriate by the Attorney General; (3) consider— (A) the National Institute of Justice study, Forensic Sciences: Review of Status and Needs, published in 1999; (B) the Bureau of Justice Statistics census reports on Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories, published in 2002, 2005, 2009, and 2014; (C) the National Academy of Sciences report, Strengthening Forensic Science: A Path Forward, published in 2009; and (D) the Bureau of Justice Statistics survey of forensic providers recommended by the National Commission of Forensic Science and approved by the Attorney General on September 8, 2014;(4) provide Congress with a comprehensive view of the infrastructure, equipment, and personnel needs of the broad forensic science community.

9. JFAA2012 = $10M2013 = $11M2014 = $12M2015 = $12M2016 = $13.5M2017 = $13M New Coverdell Authorization:2018 = $18.5M2019 = $19M2020 = $21M2021 = $23M**Found an offset of 11M to fund JFAA Coverdell Authorization**Only program to increase funding in the JFAA Reauthorization

10. JFAA--CoverdellCoverdell AUTHORIZED FY17 to FY21 tier increase to combat the Cut-Go rules of the House.Agreed to new language on accreditation (1) in section 2802(2) (42 U.S.C. 3797k(2)), by inserting after ‘‘bodies’’ the following: ‘‘and is accredited by an accrediting body that is a signatory to an internationally recognized arrangement and that offers accreditation to forensic science conformity assessment bodies using an accreditation standard that is recognized by that internationally recognized arrangement, or attests, in a manner that is legally binding and enforceable, to use a portion of the grant amount to prepare and apply for such accreditation not more than 2 years after the date on which a grant is awarded under section 2801’’;Changed 75% formula to 85% Changed minimum requirement a state receives from .06% to 1%Inserted impression evidence after latent printsAdded: impression evidence, digital evidence and fire evidence to funding allowances

11. JFAA--CoverdellAdded: to address emerging forensic science issues (such as statistics, contextual bias, and uncertainty of measurement) and emerging forensic science technology (such as high throughput automation, statistical software, and new types of instrumentationAdded: to educate and train forensic pathologistsAdded: To work with the States and units of local government to direct funding to medicolegal death investigation systems to facilitate accreditation of medical examiner and coroner offices and certification of medicolegal death investigators Signed by the President December 16, 2016

12. Sexual Assault Survivors BillComments submitted to Ranking and via Ranking to AuthorEdits: Modified the notice section to A) Make it clear the lab is not responsible for notificationB) Notification is made upon written requestC) Notices only triggered if destruction occur prior to statute of limitationsD) If destruction occurs pursuant to statute of limitations, no notice requiredDefinition of survivor to include deceased victimsVictim not having genetic information of suspect and vice versaOJP included in policy decisions to include the interests of practitionersSigned by President 10/7/2016

13. Rapid DNA ActAuthorize criminal justice agencies using Rapid DNA devices and requisite quality assurance methods approved by the FBI to upload reference sample profiles generated by such devices to CODISDirects the FBI to issue standards and procedures for the use of Rapid DNA instruments outside of an accredited laboratory environment and the use of DNA analyses for reference samples derived from Rapid DNA instrumentsAuthorizes the FBI to waive the current requirement that samples collected from federal or District of Columbia offenders be sent to the FBI for processing in cases where samples are processed using FBI approved Rapid DNA instruments, quality assurance standards, and infrastructure Maintains this capability be limited to governmental law enforcement agencies and provides a measure that all matches be verified by an accredited lab prior to that information being used at trial.Final passage House and Senate 8/2/17

14. Pending Legislation Re-authorization of SAFER: All edits accepted to dateBeginning draft of Narcotics BillSANE Nurse BillRape Kit Backlog ResolutionOFSOFMOSAC

15. FY18 Appropriations: FundingCoverdell: DOJ $10.6, House 0, Senate $13.5m DNA: DOJ $105m, House $125m, Senate $125mOSAC: DOJ $4m, House $4m, Senate $4m

16. FY18 Appropriations: Senate LanguageDOJ Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety90 days after enactmentHow DOJ will assist State and Locals with opioid crisisHow State and Locals will be included in decisions regarding grant programsHow DOJ will continue to coordinate with NIST on OSACTraining for Forensic ServicesOJP should explore ways to provide multi-jurisdictional resources in collaboration with universities, nonprofits for law enforcement. Byrne funding can be used.OSAC$3m to OSAC for its continuation and $1m to support technical merit evaluationsNIST to provide DOJ SWGs fundingDEA Encouraged to work with State and Locals on drug crisis

17. ABA meeting at Fordham Law School (Web)Attended all the NCFS meetings Made comments on NCFS documents CFSO presentations to PCAST meeting and ongoing effortsCFSO presentations at ASCLD, AAFS, AFQAM, IAI, IABPA, NWAFS, MAFS, Sexual assault coalition meeting NIJ grant administration meetingsIncreased positive media presence (Science, internet blogs, magazine articles, newspapers)Review and comment on DOJ ULTR and FSDR ApproachesOSTP/PCAST InteractionInformation providedLab visitsPresentations givenInformation sharing with membershipIncreased involvement with Federal Agencies (FBI, NIST, DOJ/AG, OSTP, NIJ, OMB, GAO, DOD)National Sexual Assault Symposium (Web)Non-Legislative efforts:

18. Recent and Near Future Work…Invited to White House meeting (OSTP)NCFS presentationsFederal Opioid MeetingAG Sessions/DAG RosensteinOLP/NIJ/OJP/NIST/CDC all have new leadershipOMB DOJ Federal Registry RFINIST Federal Registry RFI

19. Representing the leaders of the forensic science community through the Advocacy Committee this year has been a privilege and an honor.Finding the correct amount of information to provide as we represent you is always a challenge. We increased the communication this year and would love more feedback.It has been a great year; thank-you for allowing us to serve you!

20. What can IAI members do?Letters to respective members of Congress when requested – instructions forthcomingYou are a key Member of the CFSOThe size of your membershipYour mission matches well with Coverdell and your disciplines are under fire Your responsiveness to grassroots requests has been considerable and effectiveThink of pro-active efforts you’d like to see put in placeContact or forward them to President Jorz, who will forward them to the IAI’s CFSO Representative