Bill > A09324

This bill abolishes the office of coroner in New York counties, with two exceptions for Lewis and Madison counties. Under the proposed legislation, county boards of supervisors will have the power to eliminate the coroner position at least 150 days before a general election, subject to a permissive referendum (a process that allows voters to approve or reject a local government's decision). When a county decides to abolish the coroner's office, the existing coroners' terms will end upon the appointment of a medical examiner, and no new coroners will be elected in that county thereafter. The bill essentially transitions counties from having elected coroners to having appointed medical examiners, who are typically medical professionals trained in forensic pathology and responsible for investigating deaths, performing autopsies, and determining cause of death. The act will take effect on the first day of January following its passage into law.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A9324