Bill > A4507

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the New Jersey Forensic Science Commission. Under the bill, the commission would establish a code of professional responsibility for forensic science analysts and crime laboratories; develop and implement a reporting system through which a crime laboratory may report professional negligence or professional misconduct; investigate reports of professional negligence or misconduct; initiate investigations of professional negligence or misconduct; establish licensing and disciplinary measures for forensic analysts; and establish an accreditation process for crime laboratories and other entities conducting forensic analyses of physical evidence for use in criminal proceedings. The commission would be composed of eleven members appointed as follows: (1) the Attorney General or a designee, serving ex officio; (2) two county prosecutors, appointed by the Governor based upon the recommendation of the County Prosecutors Association of the State of New Jersey; (3) the Public Defender or a designee, serving ex officio; (4) two members appointed by the Governor, based on the recommendation made by the chancellor of Rutgers University School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, one of whom would be required to be a faculty member or staff member of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the other of whom would be required to be a faculty member or staff member of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Each would be required to specialize in clinical laboratory medicine; (5) one member appointed by the Governor, who would be required to be a faculty member or staff member of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, based on the recommendation made by the dean of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University; (6) two members one each appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly, who would be required to be a faculty member or staff member of a four-year institution of higher education with expertise in the fields of criminal justice, forensic science, or statistical analyses; and (7) two public members one each appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the General Assembly, who have expertise in the field of forensic science. The commission members would serve without pay, but would have staff and support provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Carol Murphy (D)*,  Bill Spearman (D)*,  Benjie Wimberly (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee (on 09/22/2022)

Official Document