GA HB1329

Designates the office of coroner as a full-time position and requires county governing authorities to provide coroners the same employment benefits given to the clerk of superior court, probate judge, sheriff, and tax commissioner

Replaces the previous three-tier minimum salary schedule (ranging from $1,200 to $3,600 based on 1990 census data) with a new 15-tier schedule based on the 2020 census, with minimum salaries ranging from $17,700 for counties under 6,000 population to $105,000 for counties of 500,000 or more

Establishes two compensation formulas for deputy coroners, selected by the coroner at the beginning of each term: either a salary equal to one-half of the coroner's salary, or one-quarter of the coroner's salary plus $250 per case worked

Removes the per-call death investigation fee previously paid to coroners under Code Section 45-16-27, replacing it with the new salary-only compensation structure

Protects any coroner or deputy coroner in office as of July 1, 2020 or 2021, respectively, from having their compensation reduced below current levels under the new provisions