House Bill 1042 Summary

• Requires written consent from a deceased person's relative before an autopsy may be performed, establishing a priority order: surviving spouse, parents, adult descendants, guardians, or persons related by civil law.

• Allows autopsies without prior consent only if no relatives can be found after reasonable search and inquiry; the person seeking consent must document the nature and extent of the search.

• Applies the consent requirement to autopsies authorized by judges under criminal investigation statutes, medical examiners investigating deaths, circuit court orders for exhumed bodies, prisoner deaths, and claims under victim compensation provisions.

• Exempts autopsies already authorized under existing law where consent has already been obtained from an authorized person.

• Takes effect July 1, 2013.