FACACLASSIC

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Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOJ - 83353 - National Commission on Forensic Science - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Commission on Forensic Science	Agency Name	Department of Justice
Fiscal Year	2017	Committee Number	83353
Original Establishment Date	4/23/2013	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	4/23/2017	Committee URL	https://www.justice.gov/ncfs
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Designated Federal Officer
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	4/23/2015	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Jonathan
Date Of Renewal Charter	4/23/2017	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date	4/23/2017	Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	McGrath
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	PhD, MSFS
Specific Termination Authority	Agency decision documentation dated April 23, 2015	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	202-514-6277
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	Agency decision documentation dated March 8, 2013	Designated Federal Officer Email*	jonathan.mcgrath@usdoj.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	3/8/2013
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Other Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Terminate
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Commission accomplished its purpose by: a. Recommending priorities for standards development to the Attorney General; b. Reviewing and recommending that the Attorney General endorse guidance identified or developed by subject-matter experts; c. Developing proposed guidance concerning the intersection of forensic science and the courtroom; d. Developing policy recommendations, including a uniform code of professional responsibility and minimum requirements for training, accreditation and/or certification; e. Considering the recommendations of the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Forensic Science; f. Identifying and assessing the current and future needs of the forensic sciences to strengthen their disciplines and meet growing demands.
How is membership balanced?*	The Commission was comprised of approximately 30 members and up to 10 “ex officio members from key stakeholder groups, including Federal, State, and Local forensic science providers; scientists and academicians; Federal, State, and Local prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges; and other relevant interests. Members were selected to achieve a range of backgrounds, experiences, viewpoints, and expertise. DOJ used a distribution that included at least one member from the desired areas of expertise and the various levels of government. This distribution ensured that multiple views from the justice community were represented. The DFO monitored the committee's balance.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Once quarterly, however because the Commission terminated in April, only two meetings were held in FY17. Recommendations and Views prepared by the subcommittees are discussed and voted on during the Commission meetings. Invited speakers inform the Commission on relevant topics.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The objectives and scope of activities of the Commission were to provide recommendations and advice to the Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning national methods and strategies for: strengthening the validity and reliability of the forensic sciences (including medico-legal death investigation); enhancing quality assurance and quality control in forensic science laboratories and units; identifying and recommending scientific guidance and protocols for evidence seizure, testing, analysis, and reporting by forensic science laboratories and units; and identifying and assessing other needs of the forensic science communities to strengthen their disciplines and meet increasing demands generated by the criminal and civil justice systems at all levels of government. The Commission membership included those directly affected, interested, and qualified to the nature and functions of the committee.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings of the Commission will be open to the public.
Recommendation Remarks	The Commission was established under Agency authority, and was governed in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. The Department of Justice (DOJ) established the National Commission on Forensic Science, in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to enhance the practice and improve the reliability of forensic science. From 2014 to 2017, the NCFS developed 43 work products, including 20 recommendations to the Attorney General, to support these goals and met its initial mandate. On April 10, 2017, the Attorney General announced that the Commission would not be renewed and that the DOJ would take a series of steps to advance forensic science upon its termination, to include: 1) appointment of a Senior Forensic Advisor to interface with forensic science stakeholders and advise DOJ leadership; 2)conducting a needs assessment of forensic science laboratories; and 3) publishing a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comments on how the DOJ should move forward to strengthen the foundations of forensic science and improve the operations and capacity of forensic laboratories.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	Department actions on the Recommendations adopted by the Commission can be found in the following memorandum from the Attorney General: Recommendation of the NCFS Announcement for NCFS Meeting Twelve - January 2017 (https://www.justice.gov/ncfs/page/file/930411/download)
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Strengthen the validity and reliability of the forensic sciences.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Not Applicable	Grants Review Comment	Not Applicable
Number Of Recommendations*	20	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	NCFS Recommendations propose specific acts that the Attorney General could take to further the goals of the Commission. 2 Recommendations work products were adopted by the Commission in FY2017: 1) Accreditation of Digital and Multimedia Evidence Forensic Science Service Providers; 2) Model Legislation for Medicolegal Death Investigation Systems NCFS Views Documents reflect the collective views of the Commissioners and do not request specific action by the Attorney General. 2 Views work products were adopted by the Commission in FY2017: 1) Recognizing the Autonomy and Neutrality of Forensic Pathologists; 2) Use of Checklists in Forensic Science Adopted NCFS work products can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/ncfs/work-products-adopted-commission	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	70.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	DOJ generally provides responses to NCFS Recommendations work products within 6 months of the recommendation being adopted by the Commission. The Attorney General has formally responded to 14 of the 20 Recommendations work products adopted by NCFS, 2 of those during FY 2017. Department actions on the Recommendations adopted by the Commission can be found in the following memorandums from the Attorney General: Recommendation of the NCFS Announcement for NCFS Meeting Twelve - January 2017 (https://www.justice.gov/ncfs/page/file/930411/download)	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	DOJ responses to Recommendations adopted at NCFS meetings #11 and #12 (September 2016 & January 2017) are currently in progress.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	www.justice.gov/ncfs
Agency Feedback Comment*	DOJ will provide feedback generally within 6 months of the recommendation adoption date.	Narrative Description*	The objectives and scope of activities of the Commission are to provide recommendations and advice to the Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning national methods and strategies for: strengthening the validity and reliability of the forensic sciences (including medico-legal death investigation); enhancing quality assurance and quality control in forensic science laboratories and units; identifying and recommending scientific guidance and protocols for evidence seizure, testing analysis and reporting by forensic science laboratories and units; and identifying and assessing other needs of the forensic science communities to strengthen their disciplines and meet the increasing demands generated by the criminal and civil justice systems at all levels of government.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$88,510.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$439,118.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$72,124.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$333.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$26,367.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$626,452.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified		Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.00
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	1.00	Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

No interest areas selected for this committee.

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