Bill > HB544

This bill revises the provisions for the Escambia County Medical Examiner, establishing a new appointment process and clarifying roles and responsibilities. The bill creates a nominating committee consisting of the Escambia County Commission Chair, District Attorney, Sheriff, and Chief Medical Examiner of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to submit a list of candidates for the medical examiner position. The medical examiner will now serve a six-year term aligned with the district attorney's term, with the first appointment after October 1, 2025, extending to January 20, 2029. The bill modifies the medical examiner's appointment from a contract employee to an agent of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and allows the director to appoint an interim medical examiner if a vacancy occurs. The legislation expands the types of deaths requiring investigation, including sudden, unexpected, or suspicious deaths, and provides more detailed guidelines for death investigations and autopsies. Additionally, the bill repeals a previous section related to medical examiner compensation and transfers equipment and funding control to the county medical examiner's office, with the Escambia County Commission establishing a Medical Examiner Fund to support the office's operations.

Government Affairs

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