44-3-301. Laboratory of criminalistics. (1) There is a laboratory of criminalistics within the department of justice. The laboratory's purpose is to perform analysis of specimens submitted by all Montana state, county, or city law enforcement officers and all state agencies and referral specimens from other states if accepted by the laboratory director.

(2) The laboratory's functions include analysis of toxicologic and criminalistic specimens that the laboratory director considers within the performance capability of the laboratory.

(3) The laboratory shall establish a Yellowstone County branch. The laboratory director shall determine the purposes, duties, and functions of the Yellowstone County branch, but priority must be given to the relief of the backlogs of chemistry and toxicology statewide.