HB 1152 Summary

• Establishes a new chapter creating county medical examiner positions in Hawaii, requiring each county mayor to appoint a medical examiner who is a licensed physician and certified anatomic or forensic pathologist.

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

• Authorizes medical examiners to administer oaths, issue subpoenas, conduct autopsies, and maintain 24/7 office operations; grants them authority over body disposition and personal effects found on deceased persons.

• Replaces all references to "coroner" with "medical examiner" throughout Hawaii Revised Statutes and repeals Chapter 841 and Section 52D-4 relating to coroner provisions.

• Appropriates state funds to assist counties in implementing the medical examiner system for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023; effective July 1, 2021.