103rd Congress > House > Vote 108

Date: March 29, 1993

Result: 374-4 (Passed)

Clerk session vote number: 112

Vote Subject Matter: Civil Liberties / Domestic Social Policy

Sponsor: EDWARDS, William Donlon (Don) (D-CA)

Bill number: HR829

Question: SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS, AS AMENDED

Description: DNA IDENTIFICATION ACT

Bill summary: DNA Identification Act of 1993 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the use of drug control and system improvement grants to develop or improve in a forensic laboratory a capability to analyze deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for identification purposes. Sets forth certification requirements with respect to laboratories to conduct DNA analysis using grant funds. Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to: (1) appoint an advisory board on DNA quality assurance methods; and (2) issue standards for quality assurance, including standards for testing the proficiency of forensic laboratories and forensic analysts in conducting such analyses. Authorizes the Director to establish an index of DNA identification records of persons convicted of crimes, analyses of DNA samples recovered from crime scenes, and analyses of DNA samples recovered from unidentified human remains. Makes the exchange of DNA identification records subject to cancellation if specified quality control and privacy requirements are not met. Requires: (1) FBI personnel who perform DNA analyses to undergo, at regular intervals, external proficiency testing; and (2) the Director to submit an annual report on the results of such tests to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees for five years and to arrange for periodic blind external tests to determine the proficiency of DNA analysis performed at the FBI laboratory. Restricts disclosure of DNA tests performed for a Federal law enforcement agency to: (1) criminal justice agencies for law enforcement identification purposes; and (2) any defendant for criminal defense purposes. Authorizes disclosure of test results for a population statistics data base, for identification research and protocol development purposes, for quality control purposes if personally identifiable information is removed. Imposes fines of up to $100,000 upon individuals who: (1) having access to individually identifiable DNA information indexed in a database created or maintained by a Federal law enforcement agency by virtue of employment or official position, willfully disclose such information to any person or agency not entitled to receive it; and (2) without authorization, willfully obtain DNA samples or such individually identifiable DNA information. Authorizes appropriations.

Bill titles: To amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize funds received by States and units of local government to be expended to improve the quality and availability of DNA records; to authorize the establishment of a DNA identification index; and for other purposes.

Links for more info on the vote: congress.gov

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