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Commission updates: Rapid‑DNA platform approved for CODIS searches; apprenticeship pilot moving ahead
Summary
Staff reported that an NDIS‑approved rapid‑DNA platform became available for certain crime‑scene samples and that the apprenticeship pilot for forensic analysts (DNA, toxicology, and alcohol/toxicology disciplines) is progressing with university partners and curriculum development.
Commission staff updated members on Rapid DNA and workforce development. An NDIS‑approved platform for crime‑scene rapid‑DNA profiling (rapid intel plus cartridge) is now available, a development staff said will affect sample‑selection and validation work. Separately, the forensic analyst apprenticeship pilot continues to move forward: staff are soliciting lab applications, working with university partners (Sam Houston, UNT Health) on curriculum development, and hiring project managers to track milestones and legislative reporting.
"The rapid intel plus cartridge for those scribe scene samples has been approved," a presenter said, reporting that validation work at DPS will support guidance on sample selection. On apprenticeship, staff said three disciplines (c‑strokes [likely C‑strokes], alcohol/toxicology and human forensic biology) are prioritized and that OCA has assigned a project manager to monitor milestones and reporting to the legislature.
Why it matters: an approved Rapid DNA platform changes technical pathways for entering profiles into CODIS and may expand the range of field and agency partners; the apprenticeship pilot is meant to address chronic workforce shortages in high‑training disciplines such as firearms and DNA interpretation.
