AL HB312

Coroners shall be responsible for storing and transporting bodies to the Department of Forensic Sciences for autopsies ordered under Alabama Code Section 36-18-2, and must coordinate with the Department regarding logistics.

State of Alabama pays storage and transportation costs from the ordering entity's operating expenses when an autopsy is ordered by an authorized entity under Section 36-18-2.

If an autopsy order results from a request by an unauthorized person or entity, that requestor bears all storage and transportation costs, with the county commission collecting payment within 30 days.

Coroners must submit itemized expense statements to the county commission within 10 days of body delivery to the forensic laboratory, and a special county fund shall be established to receive and disburse reimbursements.

Coroners are not required to store or transport bodies for autopsy requests made outside official channels, but may do so if the requestor pays all expenses in advance to the special fund.