House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Adds the following content. Rewrites SL 1937-535, as amended, which establishes the Wake County Bureau of Identification (Bureau), and now provides as follows. Allows the Bureau to be referred to as a multidisciplinary forensic services agency and authorizes it to adopt any department name in accordance with Wake County policy and subject to approval by the Wake County Manager.

No longer provides for the appointment of an identification expert and assistants; instead requires that the District Attorney of the Tenth Prosecutorial District and the Wake County Manager appoint, on July 1, 2024, a Bureau Director for a four-year term who will be supervised by the District Attorney. Sets out provision for filling a vacancy in the Director position and sets out how a Director may be terminated. Requires the Director’s compensation and expenses to be included in the annual budget prepared by the Wake County Manager.

Amends the specified duties to now require the Bureau, as requested, to fingerprint and photograph all persons arrested in Wake County; and provide crime scene examination and other forensic services for which the Bureau has capability to all law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies for criminal investigations with original jurisdiction within the geography of Wake County.

Makes Wake County the sole entity responsible for providing and paying for the Bureau’s office space, equipment, and salaries.

Makes Bureau employees who are sworn law enforcement officers eligible for annual recertification as deputy sheriffs, if they meet the minimum requirements for LEO certification.

Repeals Section 1 of SL 1977-350, which concerned the appointment of assistants to the identification expert for the Bureau.

Makes organizational and conforming technical changes. Amends the act’s titles.