COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
LR No.: 1379-01
Bill No.: Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed HB 375
Subject: County Coroners, Medical Examiners: Procedures, Investigations
Type: Original
Date: May 22, 2003
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on General Revenue Fund |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on Other State Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 3 pages.
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 |
| Local Government | $0 | $0 | $0 |
ASSUMPTION
Officials of the Office of Attorney General assume no fiscal impact.
Officials of the St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office assume no fiscal impact
Officials of the Greene County Medical Examiner's Office assume no fiscal impact.
Jackson County Medical Examiner did not respond.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2004
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2005 | FY 2006 |
| $0 | $0 | $0 |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2004
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2005 | FY 2006 |
| $0 | $0 | $0 |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This bill makes several changes to the laws regarding County Coroners.
(1) Allows payment from the county or city to a pathologist, chemist, or other expert when employed by a Coroner;
(2) Clarifies that when a person dies while being transferred for medical treatment or is being treated in an emergency room of a receiving facility, the county or state from which the person
is first removed is considered to be the place of death and makes that coroner responsible for the certificate of death. Notification of a County Coroner is also necessary when certain
institutionalized persons die after being transferred to an institution in another county. If the coroner in the county where the person died believes further investigation is warranted, the coroner may investigate with authorization from the transferring county coroner;
(3) Requires emergency room staff or a County Coroner to notify the transferring County Coroner when a death occurs during transfer and make information and records available for any investigation; and
(4) Makes the county of origin of a deceased person responsible for any investigation in the case of homicide, suicide, child fatality, or any unusual or suspicious death.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Office of Attorney General
St. Louis County Medical Examiner
Greene County Medical Examiner
Mickey Wilson, CPA
Director
May 22, 2003