1. (a) Eligibility Requirements for Accredited Crime Laboratories. Prioritizing the long-term retention of forensic analysts, the Commission shall award an apprentice position to a publicly- funded accredited crime laboratory that meets the following eligibility requirements. A selected accredited crime laboratory must:

   1. (1) declare itself as a National Institute of Standards and Technology, Organization of Scientific Area Committee for Forensic Science Implementer in the forensic discipline for which the laboratory seeks an apprenticeship position or have a plan for implementation approved by the Commission;
   2. (2) implement a forensic disclosure compliance policy as required under the Code of Professional Responsibility, under §651.219(c)(8) of this chapter (relating to Code of Professional Responsibility);
   3. (3) agree to comply with any financial and administrative reporting requirements set forth by the Office of Court Administration;
   4. (4) ensure selected apprentices meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section;
   5. (5) document a path for long-term retention of apprentices who successfully complete the pilot program, contingent upon the availability of funding;
   6. (6) if awarded a forensic biology apprenticeship position, demonstrate implementation of probabilistic genotyping software or have a plan for implementation approved by the Commission; and
   7. (7) agree to timely notify the Office of Court Administration and the Commission of any material change in the eligibility or ability of an apprentice to participate in the pilot program.

2. (b) Eligibility Requirements for Apprentice Applicants. The Commission shall award an apprenticeship position to an individual who meets the following eligibility requirements. Selected apprentices must:

   1. (1) satisfy all employment eligibility requirements of the accredited crime laboratory sponsoring the apprentice;
   2. (2) satisfy the minimum education and specific coursework requirements for licensure established under §651.207 of this chapter (relating to Forensic Analyst and Forensic Technician Licensing Requirements, Including Initial License Term and Fee, Minimum Education and Coursework, General Forensic Examination, Proficiency Monitoring, and Mandatory Legal and Professional Responsibility Training) at the highest level of licensure within the forensic discipline for which the apprentice seeks to participate in the pilot program;
   3. (3) submit written responses to essay question(s) developed by the Commission in collaboration with the Texas Association of Crime Laboratory Directors and the Texas Association of Forensic Quality Assurance Managers; and
   4. (4) provide an oral presentation to personnel designated by the sponsoring pilot program accredited crime laboratory on subject(s) to be developed by the Commission in collaboration with the Texas Association of Crime Laboratory Directors and Texas Association of Forensic Quality Assurance Managers.

Source Note:The provisions of this §651.603 adopted to be effective June 17, 2026, 51 TexReg 3911.