Section 29-7b - Division of Scientific Services(a) There shall be within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection a Division of Scientific Services. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall serve as administrative head of such division, and may delegate jurisdiction over the affairs of such division to a deputy commissioner.(b) The Division of Scientific Services shall provide technical assistance to law enforcement agencies in the various areas of scientific investigation. The division shall maintain facilities and services for the examination and analysis of evidentiary materials in areas including, but not limited to, chemistry, arson, firearms, questioned documents, microscopy, serology, toxicology, trace evidence, latent fingerprints, impressions and other similar technology. The facilities, services and personnel of the division shall be available, without charge, to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and all duly constituted prosecuting, police and investigating agencies of the state.(c) The Division of Scientific Services: (1) May investigate any physical evidence or evidentiary material related to a crime upon the request of any federal, state or local agency,(2) may conduct or assist in the scientific field investigation at the scene of a crime and provide other technical assistance and training in the various fields of scientific criminal investigation upon request,(3) shall assure the safe custody of evidence during examination,(4) shall forward a written report of the results of an examination of evidence to the agency submitting such evidence,(5) shall render expert court testimony when requested, and(6) shall conduct ongoing research in the areas of the forensic sciences. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a director designated by the commissioner shall be in charge of the Division of Scientific Services operations and shall establish and maintain a system of case priorities and a procedure for submission of evidence and evidentiary security. The director of the Division of Scientific Services shall be in the unclassified service and shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner.(d) In accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39, all powers and duties of the Department of Public Health under the provisions of sections 14-227a, 14-227c, 15-140 u and 21a-283 shall be transferred to the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.(e) There is established within the Division of Scientific Services the Connecticut Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which shall consist of affiliate law enforcement agencies in the state. The task force shall use state and federal moneys appropriated to it in a manner that is consistent with the duties prescribed in 34 USC 21114.(P.A. 83-66, S. 1, 2; P.A. 99-218 , S. 1 , 16 ; P.A. 11-51 , S. 134 ; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 , S. 240 .)
Amended by P.A. 23-0056, S. 17 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by P.A. 12-0001, S. 240 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2012 Special Session, eff. 6/15/2012. See Sec. 29-7h re duties concerning firearms evidence databank. See Secs. 54-102g to 54-102l , inclusive, re duties concerning DNA analysis and establishment and maintenance of DNA databank.