(a) To ensure expeditious and economical processing of offender specimens and samples for inclusion in the FBI’s CODIS System and the state’s DNA Database and Data Bank Program, the Department of Justice DNA Laboratory is authorized to contract with other laboratories, whether public or private, including law enforcement laboratories, that have the capability of fully analyzing offender specimens or samples within 60 days of receipt, for the anonymous analysis of specimens and samples for forensic identification testing as provided in this chapter and in accordance with the quality assurance requirement established by CODIS and ASCLD/LAB.

(b) Contingent upon the availability of sufficient funds in the state’s DNA Identification Fund established pursuant to Section 76104.6, the Department of Justice DNA Laboratory shall immediately contract with other laboratories, whether public or private, including law enforcement laboratories, for the anonymous analysis of offender reference specimens or samples and any arrestee reference specimens or samples collected pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 296 for forensic identification testing as provided in subdivision (a) of this section and in accordance with the quality assurance requirements established by CODIS and ASCLD/LAB for any specimens or samples that are not fully analyzed and uploaded into the CODIS database within six months of the receipt of the reference specimens or samples by the Department of Justice DNA Laboratory.

(Added November 2, 2004, by initiative Proposition 69, Sec. 8. Note: Prop. 69 is titled the DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act.)