HB 1972 Summary

• Restructures the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner with a new Chief Administrative Officer appointed by the Board of Medicolegal Investigations to manage administrative operations and hire the Chief Medical Examiner

• Modifies Board membership from 8 to 9 members, changing references from "Office of the Chief Medical Examiner" to "Office of the State Medical Examiner" throughout statutes

• Establishes minimum qualifications for the Chief Administrative Officer (bachelor's degree in business/management or 5 years administrative experience) and specifies the Chief Medical Examiner must be board-certified in forensic pathology

• Updates procedures for medical examiner reports, autopsy findings, and fee structures for forensic services while making certified medical examiner reports self-authenticating in civil cases

• Repeals Section 944.2 regarding autopsy fees and makes various gender-neutral language corrections throughout Title 63 and related statutes; effective November 1, 2011