State Drug Lab Fiasco to Get Beacon Hill Hearing

Massachusetts lawmakers are planning to hold a public hearing today to look into the scandal sparked by a state chemist accused of faking test results at a now-closed government lab.

State Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Bigby and Public Safety Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan are among those set to testify at the Statehouse hearing.

Lawmakers say they want to explore what are the best practices, policies, and procedures needed to properly operate a drug analysis lab and avoid a repeat of what allegedly occurred at the lab.

Also scheduled to testify at the noon hearing is David Meier, a former state prosecutor appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to identify cases overseen by chemist Annie Dookhan.

Meier says Governor Patrick has ordered a "file-by-file review" of every case handled by Dookhan.