Current with legislation from 2024 Fiscal and Special Sessions.
Section 12-12-305 - Housing and equipment - Functions(a) There shall be established under the supervision of the Director of the State Crime Laboratory a central office and laboratory facility sufficient and adequate to house the various functions of the State Crime Laboratory as set out in this subchapter and as may be necessary and proper for the laboratory to perform in carrying out its official duties and functions as provided by law.(b) The laboratory shall have the equipment and personnel necessary to respond to the needs of all law enforcement agencies in the State of Arkansas with respect to the following functions: (1) Forensic toxicology, including without limitation chemical testing and analysis of body fluids and the performance of procedures to determine the presence and significance of toxic agents both in the investigation of death cases authorized by this subchapter and in other appropriate cases;(2) Criminalistics, including without limitation chemical testing of trace evidence, physical and microscopic analysis of evidence, latent fingerprint identification and classification, firearms and toolmarks identification, serology, DNA analysis, DNA database administration, and computer forensic analysis;(3) Drug analysis, including without limitation analyzing and identifying substances suspected as being controlled, illicit, or contraband drugs;(4) Pathology and biology, including the investigation and determination of the cause and manner of deaths that become subject to the jurisdiction of the State Medical Examiner under § 12-12-318 and the general application of the medical sciences to assist the criminal justice system in the State of Arkansas; and(5) Any other laboratory divisions, sections, or functions that, in the opinion of the State Crime Laboratory Board, may serve the needs of law enforcement in the State of Arkansas for laboratory analysis.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5844, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2013, No. 323,§ 1, eff. 8/16/2013.Acts 1979, No. 864, §§ 7, 8; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 42-1209, 42-1210.