1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Combating the Opioid Epidemic Through Forensic Drug Testing Act of 2017 . 2. Confronting the use of heroin and associated drugs Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: LL Confronting the use of heroin and associated drugs 3021. Authority to make grants to address public safety and heroin distribution, sale, and use (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to assist States and Indian tribes to— (1) carry out programs to address the distribution, sale, and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs; and (2) improve the ability of State, tribal, and local government institutions to carry out such programs. (b) Grant authorization The Attorney General, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, may make grants to States to address the distribution, sale, and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs to enhance public safety. (c) Grant projects To address distribution, sale, and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs Grants made under subsection (b) may be used for programs, projects, and other activities to— (1) reimburse State, local, or other forensic science laboratories and medical examiner and coroner offices to— (A) help address backlogs of untested samples of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs; and (B) conduct autopsies and toxicology testing related to drug overdose deaths from suspected heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs; (2) reimburse State, local, or other forensic science laboratories and medical examiner and coroner offices for procuring equipment, technology, or other support systems if the applicant for the grant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that expenditures for such purposes would result in improved efficiency of laboratory testing and help prevent future backlogs