MN SF1694

Requires all Minnesota coroners and medical examiners to maintain and publicly share policies for communicating with families during death investigations, effective July 1, 2015.

Establishes a new subdivision allowing decedents' representatives to object to autopsies on religious grounds unless the coroner or medical examiner determines a compelling state interest exists.

Mandates coroners and medical examiners to notify decedents' representatives of intended autopsies within 24 hours of body discovery, including written materials explaining Minnesota's religious objection law.

Defines compelling state interests for overriding religious objections as including investigations of suspicious deaths, crimes, public health threats, unexpected child deaths, police-involved deaths, and other specified circumstances.

Allows district courts to authorize autopsies despite religious objections upon finding by a preponderance of the evidence that the autopsy is necessary and need outweighs the state's interest in observing religious beliefs.