ND SB2264

Next of kin or authorized representatives requesting a death report must provide satisfactory proof of relationship to the deceased and contact information to the state forensic examiner or their designee.

The state forensic examiner, examiner's designee, county coroner, or pathologist must make a good faith effort to immediately notify the deceased's next of kin or authorized representative of the report's availability upon receipt of the required information.

All notifications or attempted notifications to next of kin or authorized representatives must be recorded and must occur before any public disclosure of the death report.

The report of death becomes a public record eight days after the report is finalized.

Autopsy reports, working papers, and notes remain confidential and may only be disclosed as permitted by law.