§663. Approval of testing methods by Department of Public Safety and Corrections

A.(1) Chemical analyses of the person's blood, urine, breath, or other bodily substance, to be considered valid under the provisions of this Part, shall have been performed according to methods approved and promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and performed by an individual or laboratory possessing a valid permit issued by said department for the purposes set forth in this Part. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections is authorized to approve satisfactory techniques or methods, to ascertain the qualifications and competence of individuals or laboratories to conduct such analyses, and to issue permits which shall be subject to termination or revocation at the discretion of the department in accordance with regulations approved and promulgated by the department pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.

(2) Chemical analyses of a person's blood, urine, breath, or other bodily substance may be conducted by an out-of-state individual or laboratory provided that the chemical analyses are performed in accordance with the methods approved and promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or are performed by an individual or laboratory possessing a valid permit. Such analyses shall be considered valid under the provisions of this Part and admissible and competent evidence in the courts of this state and in administrative law hearings if performed in accordance with the methods approved and promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or are performed by an individual or laboratory possessing a valid permit.

B. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections may use an individual's current certification to a nationally or internationally recognized certification body or a laboratory's current accreditation to an accreditation program based on the international standard, ISO/IEC 17025, with an accreditation scope that includes toxicology or blood alcohol, in its determination of the qualifications and competence of individuals or laboratories as required by Subsection A of this Section prior to the issuance of a permit.

C. Issuance of a permit to such a certified individual or laboratory makes all laboratory forensic test results conducted on a person's blood, urine, or other bodily substance by such individual or laboratory valid under the provisions of this Part, and admissible and competent evidence of intoxication in any court of law or administrative hearing.

Added by Acts 1968, No. 273, §14. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 533, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1212, §1; Acts 2008, No. 492, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 536, §1, eff. June 30, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 183, §1; Acts 2015, No. 111, §1, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2018, No. 506, §1.