OH HB482

Requires coroners to personally go to and take charge of a dead body when the manner of death appears to be suicide, or delegates this responsibility to a deputy coroner in the coroner's absence.

Mandates that coroners, deputy coroners, or pathologists perform an autopsy in apparent suicide cases, except when a relative or friend informs the coroner that autopsy conflicts with the deceased's religious beliefs and the coroner agrees.

Requires newly elected and appointed coroners to complete at least one hour of continuing education on suicide investigation procedures conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, in addition to existing 16-hour education requirements.

Establishes a 48-hour waiting period before autopsy when religious objections are raised, during which relatives or friends may file suit to enjoin the autopsy or the coroner may seek court authorization to waive the delay.

Applies religious belief exceptions to suicide cases using the same priority system as other deaths, where closest relatives have priority in determining whether autopsy conflicts with religious beliefs.