1. (a) Generally. This subchapter contains the Texas Forensic Science Commission (Commission) rules adopted under The Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 38.01 §4-d, that govern:

   1. (1) the recognition of an accrediting body by the Commission; and
   2. (2) the accreditation by the Commission of a crime laboratory or other entity conducting forensic analyses of physical evidence for use in criminal proceedings.
2. (b) Accreditation sequence. To be accredited by the Commission under this subchapter, a crime laboratory or other entity must first be accredited by a recognized accrediting body.
3. (c) Source of evidence predicate. The Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 38.35, requires Commission accreditation of a crime laboratory or other entity for admission of evidence or testimony if the crime laboratory or other entity conducts a forensic analysis of physical evidence for use in a criminal proceeding.
4. (d) Statutory Commission accreditation. A crime laboratory or other entity may apply to the Commission for accreditation if accreditation is required for evidence admissibility under Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 38.35.

Source Note:The provisions of this §651.1 adopted to be effective June 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 4438; transferred effective September 1, 2015, as published in the Texas Register July 31, 2015, 40 TexReg 4907; amended to be effective December 24, 2015, 40 TexReg 9305; amended to be effective October 8, 2017, 42 TexReg 5489.