4003 MISSION OF THE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD; MEETINGS

4003.1 The Science Advisory Board (Board) shall be responsible for assisting and advising the Department on providing high-quality, timely, accurate, and reliable forensic science services.

4003.2 Pursuant to Section 13 of the DFS Establishment Act (D.C. Official Code § 5-1501.12), the Board is responsible for:

1. (a) Reviewing reports of allegations of professional negligence, misconduct, or misidentification or other testing error that occurred in the provision of forensic science services at the Department;
2. (b) Periodically reviewing certain Department program standards, protocols, manuals, and procedures;
3. (c) Reviewing certain matters and making recommendations to the Director regarding such matters; and
4. (d) Advising the Director or the Mayor and Council, when it considers appropriate, on matters relating to the Department or forensic science.

4003.3

1. (a) The Board shall hold at least four (4) regular meetings per year, as required by Section 12(f) of the DFS Establishment Act (D.C. Official Code § 5-1501.11(f)).
2. (b) Additional meetings shall be held by the order of the Chairperson, or at the written request of the Director or of three (3) Board members, in accordance with Section 12(f) of the DFS Establishment Act (D.C. Official Code § 5-1501.11(f)).

(c) An additional meeting may be held for any reason.

4003.4 The presence of a majority of the voting members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

4003.5

1. (a) The Board may create subcommittees as needed to assist in the performance of its duties.
2. (b) Subcommittees may be formed at the recommendation of the Director of the Department or the Chairperson of the Board.

(c) Each subcommittee shall elect a subcommittee leader, whose responsibility shall be to liaise between the Board and the subcommittee.

(d) Subcommittees are not subject to District Open Meetings Act requirements unless a quorum of members of the Board participates in the meeting or teleconference.

(e) The Board shall review each recommendation made by a subcommittee, and upon review of the recommendation, may adopt (in whole or in part, and with or without amendments) or reject the recommendation.

4003.6

(a) The Board may appoint an advisor(s) to provide specialized or technical assistance if the Board determines that such expertise is appropriate to perform its functions. The advisor's service shall be voluntary and unpaid.

(b) Any member of the Board may request that an advisor be appointed. The advisor must be approved by a majority vote of the Board before the advisor is appointed.

(c) The advisor must be qualified to provide the requested assistance. An advisor is deemed qualified if a majority of the Board deems the advisor qualified to provide assistance in the requested field.

4003.7

(a) Board members may communicate with each other on matters relating to the Department outside of Board meetings.

(b) Board members may communicate in person, via teleconference, by electronic communication, or in any other fashion as deemed appropriate by the Board.

(c) The Board must comply with the District Open Meetings Act if a quorum of its members communicates on matters relating to the Department in person or via teleconference outside of a Board meeting.

(d) Written correspondence as contemplated in this section is not subject to District Open Meetings Act requirements, but shall be subject to the District's freedom of information act.

4003.8

(a) Minutes shall be prepared for each meeting of the Board, as required by the Open Meetings Act.

(b) Draft minutes shall be made available to the public three (3) business days after the conclusion of a meeting. Final minutes approved by the Board shall be made available within seven (7) business days after the meeting at which the minutes were approved. The Department or Board may redact the minutes where permitted by District or federal law.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 66 DCR 2504 (March 1, 2019).