Texas Forensic Science Commission

See our Calendar for meeting details. Agenda are also posted on our Meetings page.

Upcoming Meetings
Date	Time	Meeting	Location
July 25, 2024	10:00 am	Licensing Advisory Committee	Austin, Texas
July 26, 2024	09:00 am	FSC Quarterly	Austin, Texas
October 24, 2024	10:00 am	Licensing Advisory Committee	Austin, Texas
October 25, 2024	9:00 am	FSC Quarterly	Austin, Texas
January 30, 2025	10:00 am	Licensing Advisory Committee	Austin, Texas
January 31, 2025	9:00 am	FSC Quarterly	Austin, Texas

Investigative Reports

Friction Ridge Investigative Report Webinar

The Texas Forensic Science Commission is hosting a webinar on March 7, 2024, from 11am-1pm CST to present its findings in the recent Friction Ridge Investigative Report stemming from a complaint filed on behalf of the defendant in a Harris County cold case murder trial.

Governor Abbott Appoints Five To Texas Forensic Science Commission

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Erika Ziemak and reappointed Jeffrey Barnard, M.D., Mark Daniel, Sarah Kerrigan, Ph.D., and Jarvis Parsons to the Texas Forensic Science Commission for terms set to expire on September 1, 2025.

Commission Recommends Voluntary Adoption of OSAC Registry Standards

FBI Issues Non-CODIS Rapid DNA Considerations and Best Practices for Law Enforcement Use

FSC General Counsel Lynn Garcia Invited to Speak Before House Committee on Science, Space & Technology

Commission Issues Explanation of the Federal Farm Bill and Related Texas Legislation in the Context of Marihuana Prosecution

Guidance Article on Results and Diagnostics within a STRmix™ Report Released

Commission Issues Memorandum on Becton Dickinson Blood Tube Recall

Friction Ridge Investigative Report Webinar

March 06, 2024

The Texas Forensic Science Commission hosted a webinar on March 7, 2024, from 11am-1pm CST to present its findings in the recent Friction Ridge Investigative Report

Commission to Host National Association of Forensic Science Boards Inaugural Meeting in Austin November 16-17, 2023

November 15, 2023

On November 16-17, 2023, the National Association of Forensic Science Boards will hold its first meeting in Austin, Texas at the Barbara Jordan Conference Center on the Texas Capitol Complex. CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Governor Abbott Appoints Five To Texas Forensic Science Commission

September 21, 2023

November 2-3 program on Understanding Forensic DNA for Lawyers and Judges

September 19, 2023

November 2-3 program on Understanding Forensic DNA for Lawyers and Judges. This conference is free and will use a sexual assault crime scenario to explore DNA issues that arise during criminal investigations, at trial, and in post-conviction proceedings.

Commission Recommends Voluntary Adoption of OSAC Registry Standards

November 22, 2019

On Friday, November 22, 2019, NIST published notice of the Texas Forensic Science Commission's recommendation that Texas-accredited labs voluntarily adopt OSAC registry standards.

NIST Press Release

Commission Recommendation to follow FBI's Non-CODIS Rapid DNA Best Practices

September 30, 2019

The FBI's Non-CODIS Rapid DNA Best Practices/Outreach and Courtroom Considerations Task Group has issued guidance for law enforcement agencies implementing Rapid DNA technology for crime scene sample analysis. The Commission recommends agencies using the technology follow the guidance in the document.

Click here to read the full article

Governor Abbott Reappoints Five to Texas Forensic Science Commission 20190912

September 12, 2019

Governor Abbott has reappointed Jeffrey Barnard, M.D., Mark Daniel, Dennis "Pat" Johnson, Sarah Kerrigan, Ph.D., and Jarvis Parsons to the Texas Forensic Science Commission for terms set to expire on September 1, 2021.

Governor's Announcement

FSC General Counsel Lynn Garcia Invited to Speak Before House Committee on Science, Space & Technology

September 09, 2019

Our General Counsel has been invited by Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson to speak before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology at a hearing on forensic science and standards, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. Central Time, September 10, 2019. You can access the hearing at the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrNIUTJK8hI&feature=youtu.be

Commission Issues Explanation of the Federal Farm Bill and Related Texas Legislation in the Context of Marihuana Prosecution

August 06, 2019

The Commission issued a document describing the impact of the federal farm bill and similar state legislation on forensic analysis of seized drugs in the crime laboratory as well as observations from the Office of Court Administration regarding case filing data. A copy of the document can be found here:

Hemp Legislation and Marihuana Prosecution Doc

Guidance Article on Results and Diagnostics within a STRmix™ Report Released

July 10, 2019

Below is a link to an article that originated as a suggestion after the Commission's STRmix Symposium last year, from several folks (especially lawyers) wanting a better understanding of the diagnostics and reporting of STRmix results.

ARTICLE

Commission Issues Memorandum on Becton Dickinson Blood Tube Recall

July 09, 2019

The Commission has issued a memorandum of guidance for questions related to the Becton Dickinson (BD) recall notification for BD Vacutainer® Fluoride Tubes for Blood Alcohol Determinations (grey top tubes) catalog number 367001 and lot number 8187663. Click here for a copy of the Commission's memorandum.

DNA Mixtures: A Forensic Science Explainer, April 3, 2019

April 11, 2019

Read the full article.

Governor Abbott Appoints Four to Texas Forensic Science Commission

April 05, 2019

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Patrick Buzzini, Ph.D. and reappointed Bruce Budowle, Ph.D., Nancy Downing, Ph.D., and Jasmine Drake, Ph.D. to the Texas Forensic Science Commission for terms set to expire on September 1, 2020.

April 4, 2019

HB-34 Report on Field Drug Testing and Crime Scene Investigation

December 18, 2018

The Commission recently published a report pursuant to the 85th Legislature's HB-34 describing its recommendations with regard to field drug testing and crime scene investigation in Texas. Report Copy.

Commission Publishes List of Forensic Analyst and Technician Licensees

December 14, 2018

On Thursday, the Commission published its list of licensed Forensic Analysts and Forensic Technicians. Analysts and Technicians must be licensed as of January 1, 2019 to perform forensic analysis in Texas.

Office of Court Administration Publishes Annual Report

December 03, 2018

The Office of Court Administration, the Forensic Science Commission's parent agency, published the Annual Report of the Judicial Support Agencies, Boards and Commissions. The report provides an overview of the activities and accomplishments of these entities during Fiscal Year 2018.

Governor Abbott Reappoints Five to the Texas Forensic Science Commission

August 23, 2018

Governor Abbott Reappoints Five To The Texas Forensic Science Commission

Commission Releases General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam Pilot Results

May 18, 2018

Commission Releases General Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam Pilot Results

Commission Releases Sixth Annual Report

January 24, 2018

On December 1, 2017, the Commission released its Sixth Annual Report, covering Commission activities from December 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017.

Speaking of Error in Forensic Science

September 06, 2017

Some forensic scientists are working to modernize the air travel industry’s approach to managing error, and many of them were present at the International Forensic Science Error Management Symposium, held last month at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Read the full article on the NIST website.