Texas Forensic Science Commission reviews dozens of lab disclosures, adopts licensing and Rapid DNA rule changes

The Texas Forensic Science Commission met July 25, 2025, in Austin and reviewed a heavy docket of laboratory self‑disclosures, complaints and program updates. The commission approved staff recommendations of “no further action” for most laboratory self‑disclosures after reviewing root‑cause analyses and corrective actions, tabled several items pending additional follow‑up from laboratories, and voted to adopt rule changes and licensure updates related to Rapid DNA and volunteer licensure pathways.

Why it matters: The commission’s routine disposition of numerous self‑disclosures keeps accredited laboratories and crime‑laboratory operations in regulatory alignment and signals how staff and labs are expected to document corrective actions. The rule changes the commission approved could speed adoption of Rapid DNA pilots and broaden licensure paths for practitioners without traditional university degrees.

Key outcomes and context

- Staff and commission members reviewed more than two dozen laboratory self‑disclosures from state and county forensic laboratories addressing issues such as instrument configuration errors, case numbering / LIMS misassignments, contamination events, incorrect unit reporting (milligrams vs grams), expired or out‑of‑range materials, and personnel departures. After reviewing each lab’s root‑cause analysis (RCA) and corrective actions, the commission followed staff recommendations to take no further action in most cases, citing completed corrective work and/or the departure of involved employees when applicable.

- Several disclosures were tabled for follow‑up because staff considered the lab responses brief or incomplete. Those items will return to staff for additional documentation and answers before the commission takes a final disposition.

- The commission approved a motion directing staff to work with the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to post and hire a senior forensic scientist (a staff‑acknowledged position to provide scientific review support for commission materials).

- The commission adopted rule changes to: (1) incorporate Rapid DNA into the commission’s accreditation requirements and (2) revise voluntary licensure requirements to create alternative competency pathways (including a proposed TDIAI‑proctored competency exam for latent print analysts and adapted pathways for crime scene reconstruction analysts with nontraditional educational backgrounds).

- The commission adopted non‑substantive revisions related to previously proposed licensure and accreditation rules as recommended by the Office of the Governor/Texas Register and moved forward with scheduling for future quarterly meetings.

- Investigations & reports: The commission adopted an investigative report and continued the suspension of accreditation for the DNA Reference Laboratory (report findings included deficiencies in proficiency testing practices, incomplete validations for certain reagents/kits, and unresolved documentation questions). The commission declined to reinstate that lab’s commission accreditation pending corrective action and review.

Votes at a glance (agenda items and final dispositions)

(Note: wording below summarizes motions and outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes. Where staff recommended “no further action” that recommendation was adopted unless otherwise noted.)

- Motion to excuse member Mark Daniel from the meeting — outcome: approved. - Motion to adopt minutes (quarterly meeting and related panel minutes) — outcome: approved. - Motion to post/hire a senior forensic scientist with OCA — outcome: approved (motion to instruct staff to work with OCA to post position). - Self‑disclosure 25.06 (Fayette County Criminal Investigation Laboratory, seized drugs / overtime claim) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.10 (Quality Forensic Toxicology Lab; incorrect column installation producing BAC2 errors; 4 affected cases) — staff recommended no further action after amended reports and RCAs; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 24.56 (Sorenson Forensics, forensic biology; undocumented case reviews under prior leadership) — staff recommended no further action given ongoing lab investigation and corrective work; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 24.57 (NMS Labs; analyst case‑number switches in LIMS leading to administrative errors) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.18 (Center for Human Identification; missing‑persons unit pipette tip issue) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action (two commissioners recused from this item: Dr. Coble and Ms. Ziemack). - Self‑disclosure 25.21 (Houston Forensic Science Center, crime scene investigator addenda/backdating; termination for dishonesty) — staff recommended no further action given corrective steps and analyst no longer employed; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.20/25.22 (Bexar County Criminal Investigation Laboratory; measurement/uncertainty reporting issues for seized drugs; coordination with ANAB) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action and noted ANAB will review during next assessment. - Self‑disclosure 25.23 (CIRRI / contamination of extraction tubes; follow‑up responses considered brief) — staff recommended tabling for more information; commission tabled the matter pending additional responses. - Self‑disclosure (Siri / switch sample / quantification rack order; brief lab responses) — staff recommended tabling for more detail; commission tabled the matter. - Self‑disclosure 25.25 (Signature Science Laboratory; analyst testimony review found inaccurate testimony in multiple transcripts; analyst resigned) — staff recommended no further action after corrective actions; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.26 (Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences; CODIS removal not executed) — staff recommended no further action and commended thorough QA documentation; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.30 (Fort Worth Police Department Breath Alcohol; calibrator out of range; PT and case handling) — staff recommended no further action after RCA and corrective steps; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.32 (DPS; seized drug reweigh and amended report after identification of a bag within crystals) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.35 (Bexar County outsourcing submission steps not followed) — staff recommended no further action after lab held shipments and completed required QA reviews; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.36 (Bexar County; reporting weight in mg instead of g; amended report issued) — staff recommended no further action after case review and corrective steps; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.37 (Brazoria County; trainee accessed prior reports during training) — staff recommended no further action after lab review and DA‑level handling; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.38 (Brazoria County blood alcohol; pipetting technique causing control drift; corrective steps and workflow changes) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.39 (Brazoria County seized drugs; expired sodium bicarbonate used for qualitative analysis; inventory controls updated) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.19 (DPS Houston; evidence technician destroyed a case intended for analysis) — staff recommended no further action after process and training changes; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.31 (DPS shipment via FedEx / Pelican case lost then recovered; samples unrefrigerated for ~10 days; transition to in‑person submissions planned) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.33 (DPS Weslaco; two seized drug cases marked “do not destroy” were destroyed; process changes instituted) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action. - Self‑disclosure 25.16 (Center for Human Identification; QIAGEN EZ1/EZ2 kit low/no yield manufacturing issue) — staff recommended no further action while CHI conducts retroactive case review; commission approved no further action (recusals noted where appropriate). - Self‑disclosure 25.17 (Signature Science / HFSC blind QC identified QIAGEN issue) — staff recommended no further action; commission approved no further action. - Complaint 25.28 (complaint re: use of non‑accredited urine testing and bond revocation) — staff recommended dismissal because CAP‑accredited confirmatory urine testing is exempt under existing administrative rule; commission dismissed the complaint. - Complaint 25.29 (wide‑ranging complaint attached to writ alleging evidence tampering and extensive DNA issues) — staff moved to table pending laboratory review and responses; commission tabled the complaint for further response from the lab. - Complaint 25.40 (filed by attorneys for Blaine Milam re DNA mixtures previously analyzed by SWIFT; lab acknowledged need to reinterpret mixtures) — staff recommended dismissal while labs proceed with reinterpretation; commission dismissed (with recusal noted for a commissioner on this item). - Complaint 24.46 (forensic document examination; later determined to involve civil matter) — commission withdrew prior vote to accept and dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. - Adoption of amended investigative report in complaint by Kevin Schuette (report amended to reflect ANAB feedback and clarified THC/THCA reporting language) — commission adopted amended report. - Motion to adopt draft investigative report concerning DNA Reference Laboratory (allegations included deletion of files, proficiency practices, validation concerns) and to continue the commission’s accreditation suspension and decline to approve the lab’s renewal application at this time — commission adopted the investigative report and continued suspension pending corrective action.

Other administrative and program updates

- Office construction / space: staff reported renovation plans (Texas Facilities Commission funding) with construction expected to begin in October and a move into the new suite in April; the fiscal year closes Aug. 31.

- Licensing: staff reported 1,339 licensees and an uptick in new applications; licensing advisory committee work on guidance, exams, and competency pathways was approved and several committee members were reappointed.

- Rapid DNA task force: the commission approved a scope of work for the statewide Rapid DNA task force to (1) develop guidance on samples best suited for Rapid DNA, (2) draft a model MOU for Rapid DNA/CODIS interactions with law enforcement and accredited labs, and (3) develop parameters for a Rapid DNA operator licensing program. The commission noted two pilot counties funded for Rapid DNA activity.

- Portal and records modernization: DPS reported a vendor selection and an August 31 target for high‑level system requirements; a phased go‑live is targeted for August 2026. A $500,000 governor’s grant program to help labs prepare for the portal was reported.

What’s next: Commission staff will return tabled disclosures once laboratories submit fuller RCA responses; the commission scheduled future quarterly meetings and will present draft reports and rule language at the October meeting as items develop.

Meeting close: The commission adjourned its July 25 session after completing the docket and setting the next steps for follow‑up items.

Speakers quoted or referenced in meeting materials were recorded in the official minutes and are reflected in the commission’s published audio/transcript.