MS SB2635

Amends definitions in Mississippi medical examiner law to add "autopsy," "mass-fatality incident," and "postmortem examination," and clarifies that "medical examiner" refers to a jurisdictional system rather than a single title.

Changes the State Medical Examiner appointment requirement from "board certified forensic pathologist/physician" to simply "person" appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

Grants the State Medical Examiner authority to coordinate state and local response in mass-fatality incidents involving aircraft, mass-transportation vehicles, military vehicles, or similar disasters, including coordination with the Mississippi Mortuary Response Team and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.

Requires county medical examiners and investigators to notify the State Medical Examiner before initiating recovery or identification efforts in mass-fatality incidents and defer to the State Medical Examiner's authority on jurisdictional questions.

Takes effect July 1, 2018.