EXPANSION OF PAUL COVERDELL FORENSIC SCIENCES IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

SEC. 311. EXPANSION OF PAUL COVERDELL FORENSIC SCIENCES IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Forensic Backlog Elimination Grants.—Section 2804 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797m) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking “shall use the grant to carry out” and inserting“shall use the grant to do any one or more of the following: “(1) To carry out” ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: “(2) To eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence, including firearms examination, latent prints, toxicology, controlled substances, forensic pathology, questionable documents, and trace evidence. “(3) To train, assist, and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog.” ; (2) in subsection (b), by striking “under this part” and inserting “for the purpose set forth in subsection (a)(1)”; and (3) by adding at the end the following: “(e) Backlog Defined. For purposes of this section, a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence exists if such evidence— “(1) has been stored in a laboratory, medical examiner’s office, coroner’s office, law enforcement storage facility, or medical facility; and “(2) has not been subjected to all appropriate forensic testing because of a lack of resources or personnel.” . (b) External Audits.—Section 2802 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797k) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2), by striking “and” at the end; (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and (3) by adding at the end the following: “(4) a certification that a government entity exists and an appropriate process is in place to conduct independent external investigations into allegations of serious negligence or misconduct substantially affecting the integrity of the forensic results committed by employees or contractors of any forensic laboratory system, medical examiner’s office, coroner’s office, law enforcement storage facility, or medical facility in the State that will receive a portion of the grant amount.” . (c) Three-Year Extension of Authorization of Appropriations.—Section 1001(a)(24) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)(24)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking “and” at the end; (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: “(G) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; “(H) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and “(I) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.” . (d) Technical Amendment.—Section 1001(a) of such Act, as amended by subsection (c), is further amended by realigning paragraphs (24) and (25) so as to be flush with the left margin.