SB 790 - This act creates a "Crime Laboratory Review Commission" to independently review the operations of crime laboratories in the state of Missouri that receive state-administered funding. The commission shall consist of nine members, including a senior manager of an accredited crime lab, an active or retired judge, a prosecuting attorney, a criminal defense attorney, a licensed law enforcement officer in a management position, a crime victims' advocate, the director of the Department of Public Safety or a designee, a higher education faculty member teaching science, and a public member with some expertise in forensic science. The commission members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The members shall serve terms of six years and the chairman shall be the director of the department or his or her designee.
The commission shall have the power to assess the capabilities and needs of the crime labs and make recommendations for improvements, authorize independent external investigations into allegations of misconduct or negligence, issue reprimands to crime labs and their employees or contractors found to be negligent or engaging in misconduct, make recommendations for crime lab procedure when labs are found to be negligent, and issue reports summarizing findings of negligence or misconduct and making recommendations regarding revocation or suspension of grant funding.
The commission shall submit an annual report to the department of public safety and to the governor making recommendations to improve the operation of crime labs in the state of Missouri.
The Department of Public Safety shall have the authority to revoke grant money from a crime lab if it does not cooperate with the commission or if allegations of serious negligence or misconduct are substantiated by the commission.
SUSAN HENDERSON MOORE