SB232 Summary

• Coroners are responsible for storing and transporting bodies to forensic sciences laboratories for autopsies or post-mortem examinations ordered under Alabama Code Section 36-18-2, except where local agreements or laws provide otherwise.

• The law enforcement agency with primary jurisdiction over the death investigation must pay storage and transportation costs to Department of Forensic Sciences facilities, excluding district attorney offices and grand juries.

• Coroners must itemize expenses and submit them to the county commission within 10 days of body delivery to the lab; the county commission then bills the responsible law enforcement agency for reimbursement within 30 days.

• All reimbursed funds go into the county general fund and can only be spent on body storage and transportation expenses for autopsies or post-mortem examinations.

• When autopsies are requested for non-investigative purposes, the coroner is not responsible for costs, but may assist if the requesting person or entity prepays all expenses.

• Act becomes effective October 1, 2010.