Commission directs creation of statewide Rapid DNA working group as FBI allows CODIS access for partnered operations

The Texas Forensic Science Commission on Jan. 31 directed staff to establish a statewide working group to develop criteria for a Rapid DNA operator licensing program and to study operational issues after the FBI announced it will permit Rapid DNA results to be entered into CODIS when law enforcement instruments operate under an accredited laboratory's quality system.

Commissioners and staff described the FBI's change as consequential: Rapid DNA instruments can produce evidentiary DNA profiles rapidly, but access to CODIS historically required accredited laboratory procedures and oversight. Under the FBI's new approach, law enforcement agencies may operate Rapid DNA instruments and obtain CODIS searches only if a partnership exists with an accredited laboratory that assumes quality‑system responsibility for those Rapid operations.

The commission's licensing advisory committee recommended creation of a special Rapid DNA operator licensing program; the full commission approved staff direction to convene a broad working group comprising representatives of defense and prosecution organizations, accreditation and assessor bodies (ANAB/A2LA), the Texas Rangers, police chiefs and sheriffs associations, the licensing advisory committee and interested laboratory directors (including agencies with existing Rapid DNA experience). Commissioners said the group's scope should include chain‑of‑custody protocols, accreditation and supervisory arrangements, training and proficiency testing, and whether booking‑station or crime‑scene workflows require distinct procedures.

The commission also invited commissioner participation in the working group and asked staff to report progress at future commission meetings. Voting on the motion to form the group carried by voice vote.