Debbie Smith Act

1/16/2023, 6:03 PM
Debbie Smith Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out sexual assault nurse examiner programs and to train law enforcement personnel and first responders in the handling of sexual assault cases and the collection and use of DNA samples for forensic evidence.

Provides that for a State to be eligible to receive a grant, the chief executive officer of the State shall submit to the Attorney General an application which shall include a certification that the State shall comply with specified quality assurance standards.

Sets forth provisions regarding restrictions on the use of funds and expenditure records.

Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to issue (and revise periodically) standards for collecting and processing, for use as forensic evidence, samples on which DNA analysis may be carried out.

Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out DNA analyses of samples from crime scenes for inclusion in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System. Sets forth provisions regarding State eligibility, restrictions on uses of funds, and expenditure records.

Congress
107

Number
HR - 2874

Introduced on
2001-09-10

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/10/2001

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Debbie Smith Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out sexual assault nurse examiner programs and to train law enforcement personnel and first responders in the handling of sexual assault cases and the collection and use of DNA samples for forensic evidence.

Provides that for a State to be eligible to receive a grant, the chief executive officer of the State shall submit to the Attorney General an application which shall include a certification that the State shall comply with specified quality assurance standards.

Sets forth provisions regarding restrictions on the use of funds and expenditure records.

Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to issue (and revise periodically) standards for collecting and processing, for use as forensic evidence, samples on which DNA analysis may be carried out.

Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out DNA analyses of samples from crime scenes for inclusion in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System. Sets forth provisions regarding State eligibility, restrictions on uses of funds, and expenditure records.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo make grants to train sexual assault nurse examiners, law enforcement personnel, and first responders in the handling of sexual assault cases, to establish minimum standards for forensic evidence collection kits, to carry out DNA analyses of samples from crime scenes, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Crime and Law Enforcement

Potential Impact
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues•
Congress•
Congressional reporting requirements•
DNA fingerprints•
Economics and Public Finance•
Education•
Evidence (Law)•
Federal aid to law enforcement•
Federal aid to nursing education•
Forensic medicine•
Forensic scientists•
Government Operations and Politics•
Government paperwork•
Health•
Higher education•
Identification of criminals•
Labor and Employment•
Law•
Police training•
Rape•
Right of privacy•
Science, Technology, Communications•
Standards•
Women

Comments

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Recent Activity

Latest Summary11/28/2006
Debbie Smith Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to eligible States to carry out sexual assault nurse examiner programs and to train law enforcement personnel and first responders in the handling of sexual assault cases and the colle...

Latest Action9/28/2001
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.