FORENSIC LAB COMMISSION-REPORT

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB2998

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SB2998 - 104th General Assembly

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Introduced

Senate Amendment 001

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Introduced

Senate Amendment 001

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2998

Introduced 1/27/2026, by Sen. Laura Ellman

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2605/2605-615

Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code
of Illinois. Requires all State and local publicly funded ISO 17025
accredited forensic laboratory systems to report all complaints received
alleging significant non-conformity with efficient delivery of forensic
services and the sound practice of forensic science to the Illinois
Forensic Science Commission within 30 days of becoming aware of the
alleged significant non-conformity or deficient method. Specifies that the
report of complaints alleging significant non-conformity or deficient
method shall include the nature and extent of the non-conformity or
deficient method alleged and whether any corrective actions were or will
be implemented to address the alleged non-conformity or deficient method.
Provides that all annual reports summarizing the forensic laboratory
systems' significant non-conformities to the Illinois Forensic Science
Commission shall include the information required to be reported under the
amendatory Act.
LRB104 18735 TRT 32178 b

A BILL FOR

SB2998
LRB104 18735 TRT 32178 b
1

AN ACT concerning State government.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 5.
The Illinois State Police Law of the Civil
5
Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section
6
2605-615 as follows:

7

(20 ILCS 2605/2605-615)
8

Sec. 2605-615.
Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
9

(a) Creation. There is created within the Illinois State
10
Police the Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
11

(b) Duties and purpose. The Commission shall:
12

(1) Provide guidance to ensure the efficient delivery
13

of forensic services and the sound practice of forensic
14

science.
15

(2) Provide a forum for discussions between forensic
16

science stakeholders to improve communication and
17

coordination and to monitor the important issues impacting
18

all stakeholders.
19

(3) Take a systems-based approach in reviewing all
20

aspects of the delivery of forensic services and the sound
21

practice of forensic science with the goal of reducing or
22

eliminating the factors and inefficiencies that contribute
23

to backlogs and errors, with a focus on education and

SB2998
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1

training, funding, hiring, procurement, and other aspects
2

identified by the Commission.
3

(4) Review significant non-conformities with the sound
4

practice of forensic science documented by each publicly
5

funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory and offer
6

recommendations for the correction thereof.
7

(5) Subject to appropriation, provide educational,
8

research, and professional training opportunities for
9

practicing forensic scientists, police officers, judges,
10

State's Attorneys and Assistant State's Attorneys, Public
11

Defenders, and defense attorneys comporting with the sound
12

practice of forensic science.
13

(6) Collect and analyze information related to the
14

impact of current laws, rules, policies, and practices on
15

forensic crime laboratories and the practice of forensic
16

science; evaluate the impact of those laws, rules,
17

policies, and practices on forensic crime laboratories and
18

the practice of forensic science; identify new policies
19

and approaches, together with changes in science, and
20

technology; and make recommendations for changes to those
21

laws, rules, policies, and practices that will yield
22

better results in the criminal justice system consistent
23

with the sound practice of forensic science.
24

(7) Perform such other studies or tasks pertaining to
25

forensic crime laboratories as may be requested by the
26

General Assembly by resolution or the Governor, and

SB2998
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1

perform such other functions as may be required by law or
2

as are necessary to carry out the purposes and goals of the
3

Commission prescribed in this Section.
4

(8) Ensure that adequate resources and facilities are
5

available for carrying out the changes proposed in
6

legislation, rules, or policies and that rational
7

priorities are established for the use of those resources.
8

To do so, the Commission may prepare statements to the
9

Governor and General Assembly identifying the fiscal and
10

practical effects of proposed legislation, rules, or
11

policy changes. Such statements may include, but are not
12

limited to: the impact on present levels of staffing and
13

resources; a professional opinion on the practical value
14

of the change or changes; the increase or decrease the
15

number of crime laboratories; the increase or decrease the
16

cost of operating crime laboratories; the impact on
17

efficiencies and caseloads; other information, including
18

but not limited to, facts, data, research, and science
19

relevant to the legislation, rule, or policy; the direct
20

or indirect alteration in any process involving or used by
21

crime laboratories of such proposed legislation, rules, or
22

policy changes; an analysis of the impact, either directly
23

or indirectly, on the technology, improvements, or
24

practices of forensic analyses for use in criminal
25

proceedings; together with the direct or indirect impact
26

on headcount, space, equipment, instruments,

SB2998
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1

accreditation, the volume of cases for analysis,
2

scientific controls, and quality assurance.
3

(c) Members. The Commission shall be composed of the
4
Director of the Illinois State Police, or his or her designee,
5
together with the following members appointed for a term of 4
6
years by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
7
Senate:
8

(1) One crime laboratory director or administrator
9

from each publicly funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic
10

laboratory system.
11

(2) One member with experience in the admission of
12

forensic evidence in trials from a statewide association
13

representing prosecutors.
14

(3) One member with experience in the admission of
15

forensic evidence in trials from a statewide association
16

representing criminal defense attorneys.
17

(4) Three forensic scientists with bench work
18

background from various forensic disciplines (e.g., DNA,
19

chemistry, pattern evidence, etc.).
20

(5) One retired circuit court judge or associate
21

circuit court judge with criminal trial experience,
22

including experience in the admission of forensic evidence
23

in trials.
24

(6) One academic specializing in the field of forensic
25

sciences.
26

(7) One or more community representatives (e.g.,

SB2998
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1

victim advocates, innocence project organizations, sexual
2

assault examiners, etc.).
3

(8) One member who is a medical examiner or coroner.
4

The Governor shall designate one of the members of the
5
Commission to serve as the chair of the Commission. Beginning
6
January 1, 2026, the Governor shall designate the chair of the
7
Commission for a 2-year term. The members of the Commission
8
shall elect from their number such other officers as they may
9
determine. Members of the Commission shall serve without
10
compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses
11
incurred in the performance of their duties from funds
12
appropriated for that purpose.
13

(d) Subcommittees. The Commission may form subcommittees
14
to study specific issues identified under paragraph (3) of
15
subsection (b), including, but not limited to, subcommittees
16
on education and training, procurement, funding and hiring. Ad
17
hoc subcommittees may also be convened to address other
18
issues. Such subcommittees shall meet as needed to complete
19
their work, and shall report their findings back to the
20
Commission. Subcommittees shall include members of the
21
Commission, and may also include non-members such as forensic
22
science stakeholders and subject matter experts.
23

(e) Meetings. The Commission shall meet quarterly, at the
24
call of the chairperson. Facilities for meeting, whether
25
remotely or in person, shall be provided for the Commission by
26
the Illinois State Police.

SB2998
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LRB104 18735 TRT 32178 b
1

(e-5) Complaint reporting by publicly funded ISO 17025
2
accredited forensic laboratories. All State and local publicly
3
funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory systems,
4
including, but not limited to, the DuPage County Forensic
5
Science Center, the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime
6
Laboratory, and the Illinois State Police, shall report to the
7
Commission any complaint received that alleges a significant
8
non-conformity with the efficient delivery of forensic
9
services and the sound practice of forensic science within 30
10
days of becoming aware of the alleged significant
11
non-conformity or deficient method. A report under this
12
subsection shall include the nature and extent of the
13
non-conformity or deficient method alleged and whether any
14
corrective actions have been implemented or will be
15
implemented to address the alleged non-conformity or deficient
16
method.

17

(f)
Annual reporting

Reporting
by publicly funded ISO
18
17025 accredited forensic laboratories. All State and local
19
publicly funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory
20
systems, including, but not limited to, the DuPage County
21
Forensic Science Center, the Northeastern Illinois Regional
22
Crime Laboratory, and the Illinois State Police, shall
23
annually provide to the Commission a report summarizing its
24
significant non-conformities with the efficient delivery of
25
forensic services and the sound practice of forensic science.
26
The report will identify: each significant non-conformity or

SB2998
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LRB104 18735 TRT 32178 b
1
deficient method; how the non-conformity or deficient method
2
was detected; the nature and extent of the non-conformity or
3
deficient method; all corrective actions implemented to
4
address the non-conformity or deficient method; and an
5
analysis of the effectiveness of the corrective actions taken.
6
The report shall include all complaints reported to the
7
Commission under subsection (e-5) of this Section.

8

(g) Definition. As used in this Section, "Commission"
9
means the Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
10
(Source: P.A. 103-34, eff. 1-1-24; 103-609, eff. 7-1-24;
11
104-24, eff. 1-1-26
.)

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