NY A06599

Establishes an independent Office of Chief Medical Examiner within the Department of Corrections, consisting of a chief medical examiner, deputy chief, and eight associate medical examiners appointed by the governor

All appointees must be doctors of medicine with forensic pathology certification and significant death investigation experience

Office responsibilities include conducting independent autopsies, forensic investigations, and data collection for all deaths in correctional facilities

Requires publication of annual reports with individual-level data on incarcerated deaths including cause, manner, age, race/ethnicity, and sex, plus preliminary death reports within 90 days of each death

Reports must be delivered to the district attorney, attorney general, commissioner, and legislature; the commissioner cannot interfere with the office's prescribed duties