Bill > HB61

This bill addresses concerns about potential conflicts of interest in death investigations by requiring each county in Hawaii to appoint a professional medical examiner as the county coroner, replacing the current practice where the chief of police could serve as the ex officio coroner. Specifically, the bill mandates that the mayor of each county must appoint a medical examiner who is a licensed physician certified as an anatomic or forensic pathologist, with confirmation required by the respective county or city council. The legislation was partly prompted by ethical concerns raised during the 2023 Maui wildfires, where questions existed about police accountability in death investigations. The bill removes provisions allowing police chiefs to serve as coroners, establishes professional qualifications for medical examiners, and grants them independent investigative powers to conduct autopsies and examine hospital records. To support implementation, the bill appropriates funds to the counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai for establishing medical examiner positions, with the goal of promoting transparency, avoiding conflicts of interest, and increasing public confidence in death investigations. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, and require counties to fill medical examiner positions within a specified timeframe after the law's enactment.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=61&year=2026