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Commission adopts rules to implement Texas crime‑lab records portal (SB 991)
Summary
The Public Safety Commission approved new rules to implement an electronic crime‑lab discovery portal required by state law, enabling prosecutors and defense counsel access to lab records through a DPS‑hosted portal.
The commission voted to adopt new rules, 37 TAC sections 28.211 through 28.215, to implement the Texas crime laboratory records portal required by Senate Bill 991.
Why it matters: the portal is intended to make crime‑laboratory records equally accessible to prosecutors and defense counsel in criminal matters. The rules implement statutory requirements for timeliness and access and address operational questions raised by private laboratories and prosecutors during a public comment period.
Brady Mills of the Crime Laboratory Division said the rules align with statutory intent and described comment letters received from private laboratories and a district attorney; the department modified rule language where the DA’s comment clarified prosecutors’ responsibilities and retention of statutory alignment. Mills asked the commission to adopt the posted rules and said the changes did not alter the rules’ underlying intent.
The commission approved the new rules by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The department will implement the portal under the statutory timeline and plans to publish implementation details and operational guidance to laboratories, prosecutors and defense counsel as required by law.
