For the operation and related costs of the state police crime laboratory, including the analysis of samples used in the prosecution of controlled substance offenses conducted at the former department of public health facilities; provided, that the analysis of narcotic drug synthetic substitutes, poisons, drugs, medicines and chemicals shall be funded from this item in order to support the law enforcement efforts of the district attorneys, the state police and municipal police departments; provided further, that the practices and procedures of the state police crime laboratory shall be informed by the recommendations of the forensic science oversight board; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for costs associated with forensic genetic genealogy DNA to be used to help solve violent crimes, identify unidentified human remains, process sexual assault evidence kits and support cold case investigations; provided further, that any third--party testing lab shall be vetted and approved by the Massachusetts state police crime lab; provided further, that the department of state police shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the caseload of each lab; (ii) all relevant information regarding turnaround time and backlogs by type of case; and (iii) the accreditation status of each lab; provided further, that not later than October 3, 2025, the first such report shall be submitted; provided further, that funds shall be spent on phase II of the processing of sexual assault evidence kits; and provided further, that not later than March 3, 2026, the department of state police shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include, but not be limited to: (a) the status of phase II of the processing of sexual assault evidence kits; (b) an anticipated timeline for completion of phase II; and (c) the year to date cost of processing sexual assault evidence kits as part of phase II
