Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2016

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2016 This bill establishes a National Forensic Science Research Initiative to improve, expand, and coordinate federal research in forensic sciences. The bill establishes a National Forensic Science Coordinating Office to coordinate with relevant federal agencies in the development of: (1) a unified federal research strategy; and (2) any necessary programs, policies, and budgets to support implementation of the research strategy. The National Science Foundation (NSF) shall contract with the National Research Council to develop a report: (1) identifying the most critical challenges in forensic science that require further research, and (2) making recommendations for research to address those challenges. The bill states that all external forensic science research grants awarded by federal agencies under this bill shall be subject to a competitive, merit-review process. The NSF shall: award forensic science basic research grants to improve the foundation and practice of forensic science; establish one or more multidisciplinary forensic research centers led by public-private partnerships between universities, industry, state or local entities, and f…