HB 1152 Summary

• Establishes a new county medical examiner system in Hawaii, requiring each county mayor to appoint a licensed physician certified as an anatomic or forensic pathologist to investigate unattended deaths.

• Medical examiners must investigate deaths resulting from violence, accidents, suicide, sudden death in apparent health, lack of physician attendance, imprisonment, suspicious circumstances, or deaths within 24 hours of hospital admission.

• Creates mandatory duties including taking charge of bodies, conducting investigations, administering oaths to witnesses, issuing subpoenas, performing autopsies, and preparing detailed investigation reports.

• Requires medical examiner offices to operate year-round including legal holidays, and establishes procedures for notification of next of kin, property handling, and cooperation with law enforcement and procurement organizations.

• Repeals Hawaii's coroner system and related statutes; appropriates state funds to assist counties with implementation effective July 1, 2021.