Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 289 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H2/27/25 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1568 3
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By: Representative Childress 5
By: Senator K. Hammer 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EXAMINATIONS, 9
INVESTIGATIONS, AND POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION; TO AMEND 10
THE LAW REQUIRING A POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION WHEN A 11
DEATH IS BY APPARENT DRUG, ALCOHOL, OR POISON 12
TOXICITY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
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Subtitle 16
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING 17
EXAMINATIONS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND 18
POSTMORTEM EXAMINATIONS; AND TO AMEND 19
THE LAW REQUIRING A POSTMORTEM 20
EXAMINATION WHEN A DEATH IS BY APPARENT 21
DRUG, ALCOHOL, OR POISON TOXICITY. 22
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code ยง 12 -12-318(a)(3)(B), concerning postmortem 26
examinations, is amended to read as follows: 27
(B)(i) The county coroner having jurisdiction where a 28
death occurs shall submit a decedent to the State Crime Laboratory for a 29
postmortem examination when the death is by apparent drug, alcohol, or poison 30
toxicity, unless a significant interval passed while the person was 31
hospitalized and hospital evaluation is available for review. 32
(ii) As used in subdivision (a)(3)(B)(i) of this 33
section, "hospitalized" means admitted to a hospital for inpatient treatment. 34
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APPROVED: 3/12/25 36