The Carla Walker Act establishes a new federal grant program to help state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, medical examiners, and coroners improve their DNA analysis capabilities using advanced forensic genetic genealogy technology. The bill authorizes ten million dollars over five years, split between two grant programs: five million dollars annually from fiscal year 2024 through 2028 for DNA analysis grants to conduct whole genome sequencing on criminal cases and unidentified human remains, and five million dollars annually for the same period to purchase forensic equipment needed for genetic genealogy analysis. Grant recipients must follow Department of Justice policies on forensic genealogy and maintain detailed records, with a requirement to report annually on how many cases they tested, what results they obtained, and how long identification took. The Attorney General must also submit a report to Congress within two years detailing the program's results and recommendations for implementing this technology more broadly across forensic laboratories nationwide.
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