Bill > S04460

This bill proposes to abolish the office of coroner in most New York counties, with Lewis and Madison counties exempted. The legislation requires county boards of supervisors to take action at least 150 days before a general election to eliminate the coroner position through a local law and replace it with a medical examiner. Once the bill takes effect, current coroners' terms will end upon the appointment and qualification of a new medical examiner, and no new coroners will be elected. The bill aims to modernize death investigation practices by replacing elected coroners, who may not have specialized medical or forensic training, with professionally appointed medical examiners who are typically medical doctors with expertise in determining cause and manner of death. The changes will take effect on the first day of January following the bill's passage into law, providing counties with time to transition their death investigation systems.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4460