P.R. Laws tit. 34, § 4005
The Institute shall have the following duties and powers:
(a) Assist the Commonwealth, municipal and federal public safety agencies in the investigation of crimes and serve as liaison between them with regard to the participation of the Government of Puerto Rico, the FBI or any other federal or state agency.
(b) Provide expert analysis, comparison and interpretation of the results of the DNA sample analysis.
(c) Perform genetic marker studies of the Puerto Rican population, in order to execute quality control tests, scientific forensic research, or studies of population segments, provided, that all information that can identify the person is eliminated. These data shall never be entered into the DNA Data Bank.
Nevertheless, data obtained for the Bank may be a part of the genetic marker studies provided that all information that can identify a person is eliminated.
(d) Assist in the recovery or identification of human remains found after catastrophic disasters or for other humane purposes.
(e) Establish, through regulations, the amount to be charged for any service related to DNA testing.
(f) Request and contract DNA forensic laboratory services, whether private, state or federal, exclusively for the taking, extraction and/or analysis of samples that shall be entered to the DNA Data Bank. The Director shall contract these laboratories, in representation of the majority decision of the Board.
(g) Promulgate regulations with regard to the methods of obtaining information requested from the DNA Data Bank and the procedures for the verification of the petitioner’s identity.
(h) Promulgate any other regulation, method or practice that is needed to comply with the purposes and provisions of this chapter, pursuant to §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedure Act”.
History —July 24, 1998, No. 175, § 7.