Tex. Government Code § 411.144
This is the official text of Tex. Government Code § 411.144, part of Texas’s Government Code — covers the structure and operation of Texas state and local government.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 411.144. REGULATION OF DNA LABORATORIES; PENALTIES.
Official statutory text
(a) The director by rule shall establish procedures for a DNA laboratory or criminal justice agency, including an authorized law enforcement agency, in the collection, preservation, shipment, analysis, and use of a DNA sample for forensic DNA analysis, including rapid DNA analysis, in a manner that permits the exchange of DNA evidence between DNA laboratories and criminal justice agencies and the use of the evidence in a criminal case.
(b) A DNA laboratory or criminal justice agency, including an authorized law enforcement agency, shall follow the procedures:
(1) established by the director under this section; and
(2) specified by the FBI, including use of comparable test procedures, laboratory equipment, supplies, and computer software.
(c) The director may at any reasonable time enter and inspect the premises or audit the records, reports, procedures, or other quality assurance matters of:
(1) any DNA laboratory that:
(A) provides DNA records to the director under this subchapter; or
(B) conducts forensic analysis; and
(2) any authorized law enforcement agency.
(d) A DNA laboratory conducting a forensic DNA analysis under this subchapter or an authorized law enforcement agency performing a rapid DNA analysis under this subchapter shall:
(1) forward the DNA record of the analysis to the director at the department's crime laboratory or another location as required by the director; and
(2) comply with this subchapter and rules adopted under this subchapter.
(e) The director is the Texas liaison for DNA data, records, evidence, and other related matters between:
(1) the FBI; and
(2) a DNA laboratory or a criminal justice agency, including an authorized law enforcement agency.
(f) The director may:
(1) conduct DNA analyses;
(2) contract with a laboratory, state agency, private entity, or institution of higher education for services to perform DNA analyses for the director; or
(3) authorize a law enforcement agency to perform rapid DNA analyses under Section 411.146(c-1).
(b) A DNA laboratory or criminal justice agency, including an authorized law enforcement agency, shall follow the procedures:
(1) established by the director under this section; and
(2) specified by the FBI, including use of comparable test procedures, laboratory equipment, supplies, and computer software.
(c) The director may at any reasonable time enter and inspect the premises or audit the records, reports, procedures, or other quality assurance matters of:
(1) any DNA laboratory that:
(A) provides DNA records to the director under this subchapter; or
(B) conducts forensic analysis; and
(2) any authorized law enforcement agency.
(d) A DNA laboratory conducting a forensic DNA analysis under this subchapter or an authorized law enforcement agency performing a rapid DNA analysis under this subchapter shall:
(1) forward the DNA record of the analysis to the director at the department's crime laboratory or another location as required by the director; and
(2) comply with this subchapter and rules adopted under this subchapter.
(e) The director is the Texas liaison for DNA data, records, evidence, and other related matters between:
(1) the FBI; and
(2) a DNA laboratory or a criminal justice agency, including an authorized law enforcement agency.
(f) The director may:
(1) conduct DNA analyses;
(2) contract with a laboratory, state agency, private entity, or institution of higher education for services to perform DNA analyses for the director; or
(3) authorize a law enforcement agency to perform rapid DNA analyses under Section 411.146(c-1).
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Texas?
Find a Texas lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.