23 LC 47 2314
H. B. 625
- 1 -
House Bill 625
By: Representatives Mathis of the 149
th
, Wade of the 9
th
, Gullett of the 19
th
, Bentley of the
150
th
, Taylor of the 173
rd
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 16 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
coroners, so as to provide that coroners are full-time county employees; to set salaries of2
deputy coroners; to provide minimum salaries of coroners; to remove certain death3
investigation fees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other4
purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Chapter 16 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to coroners, is8
amended by revising Code Section 45-16-7, relating to appointment of deputy coroners, oath,9
bond, fees, powers, and qualifications, as follows:10
"45-16-7.11
(a) As soon as practicable after July 1, 1980, and at the beginning of each term of the12
coroner thereafter, the coroner of each county shall appoint a deputy coroner or coroners13
as provided in this Code section. A deputy coroner shall be appointed for each county, and14
one or more additional deputy coroners may be appointed for any county, in the discretion15
of the coroner. Each deputy coroner shall serve at the pleasure of the coroner and may be16 23 LC 47 2314
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replaced by the coroner at any time. Each deputy coroner shall take the same oath, give
17
the same bond, be entitled to the same fees,
and have the same powers as the coroner; but18
a deputy coroner shall act as coroner only when the coroner is himself or herself unable to19
act.20
(b) No person shall be eligible to hold the office of deputy coroner unless he or she holds21
a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. Any deputy coroner who is in office22
on July 1, 1980, however, shall without limitation be eligible to serve as deputy coroner at23
any time after said date without regard to whether he or she meets the requirements of this24
subsection.25
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, there shall be appointed only one deputy26
coroner, and, on and after July 1, 1999, there shall only be one deputy coroner in each such27
county unless otherwise approved by the local governing authority of the county. At the28
beginning of each term of the coroner, the coroner shall select the compensation formula29
provided in either paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection as the compensation formula for30
deputy coroners employed by the coroner:31
(1) A salary equal to one-half of the coroner's salary as provided in Code32
Section 45-16-11; or33
(2) A salary equal to one-quarter of the coroner's salary as provided in Code34
Section 45-16-11, plus a fee of $250.00 for each case worked by the deputy coroner.35
(d) As of July 1, 2023, any deputy coroner being compensated by a county in an amount36
greater than the compensation formulas provided in subsection (c) of this Code section37
shall not have their compensation reduced for the remainder of the term of the coroner."38
SECTION 2.39
Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 45-16-11, relating to compensation40
of county coroners, increases, calculation, supplements, and expenses, as follows:41 23 LC 47 2314
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"45-16-11.
42
(a)(1) Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the minimum annual salary of each43
coroner in any of the counties in this state in the following population brackets shall be44
fixed according to the population of the county in which he or she serves, as determined45
by the United States decennial census of 1990
2020 or any future such census. Except46
as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each such coroner shall receive47
an annual salary, payable in equal monthly installments from the funds of the coroner's48
county, of not less than the amount fixed in the following schedule:49
Population Minimum Salary50
0 — 11,889..........................................51 $ 1,200.00
11,890 — 19,999..........................................52 2,400.00
20,000 — 34,999..........................................53 3,600.00
0 — 2,999...........................................54 $8,000.00
3,000 — 5,999...........................................55 $10,000.00
6,000 — 11,889..........................................56 $15,000.00
11,890 — 19,999..........................................57 $25,000.00
20,000 — 28,999..........................................58 $30,000.00
29,000 — 38,999..........................................59 $35,000.00
39,000 — 49,999..........................................60 $40,000.00
50,000 — 74,999..........................................61 $45,000.00
75,000 — 99,999..........................................62 $50,000.00
100,000 — 149,999..........................................63 $55,000.00
150,000 — 199,999..........................................64 $70,000.00
200,000 — 249,000..........................................65 $80,000.00
250,000 — 299,999..........................................66 $90,000.00
300,000 — 399,999..........................................67 $95,000.00 23 LC 47 2314
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400,000 — 499,999..........................................68 $100,000.00
500,000 or more.............................................69 $105,000.00
(2) Whenever the state employees subject to compensation plans authorized and70
approved in accordance with Code Section 45-20-4 receive a cost-of-living increase or71
general performance based increase of a certain percentage or a certain amount, the72
amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and73
in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts derived by increasing each of said amounts74
through the application of longevity increases pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code75
section, where applicable, shall be increased by the same percentage or same amount76
applicable to such state employees. If the cost-of-living increase or general performance77
based increase received by state employees is in different percentages or different78
amounts as to certain categories of employees, the amounts fixed in the minimum salary79
schedule in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the80
amounts derived through the application of longevity increases, shall be increased by a81
percentage or an amount not to exceed the average percentage or average amount of the82
general increase in salary granted to the state employees. The Office of Planning and83
Budget shall calculate the average percentage increase or average amount increase when84
necessary. The periodic changes in the amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule85
in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts86
derived through the application of longevity increases, as authorized by this paragraph87
shall become effective on the first day of January following the date that the88
cost-of-living increases received by state employees become effective; provided,89
however, that if the cost-of-living increases or general performance based increases90
received by state employees become effective on January 1, such periodic changes in the91
amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and92
in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts derived through the application of longevity93
increases, as authorized by this paragraph shall become effective on the same date that94 23 LC 47 2314
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the cost-of-living increases or general performance based increases received by state
95
employees become effective.96
(3) The county governing authority may supplement the minimum annual salary of the97
coroner in such amount as it may fix from time to time; but no coroner's compensation98
supplement shall be decreased during any term of office. Any prior expenditure of99
county funds to supplement the coroner's salary in the manner authorized by this100
paragraph is ratified and confirmed. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall prohibit101
the General Assembly by local law from supplementing the annual salary of the coroner.102
(a.1) The office of coroner shall be a full-time position, and the county governing authority
103
shall provide the coroner the same employment benefits it provides the clerk of the superior104
court, judge of the probate court, sheriff, and tax commissioner.105
(b) The amounts provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section and Code106
Section 45-16-11.1, as increased by paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section,107
shall be increased by multiplying said amounts by the percentage which equals 5 percent108
times the number of completed four-year terms of office served by any coroner after109
December 31, 2000, effective the first day of January following the completion of each110
such period of service.111
(c) The minimum salaries provided for under this Code section shall be in addition to any112
fees, including the death investigation fee provided for under subsection (b) of Code113
Section 45-16-27, paid by the county governing authority to the coroner on a per-call basis114
and in addition to any expenses Reserved.115
(d) The minimum salaries provided for in this Code section shall be considered as salary116
only. Expenses for deputies, equipment, supplies, copying equipment, and other necessary117
and reasonable expenses for the operation of a coroner's office shall come from funds other118
than the funds specified as salary in this Code section.119
(e) This Code section shall not be construed to reduce the salary of any coroner in office120
on July 1, 2001 2023; provided, however, that successors to such coroners in office on121 23 LC 47 2314
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July 1, 2001 2023, shall be governed by the provisions of this Code section. All local122
legislation in effect on July 1, 2001 2023, or enacted thereafter affecting compensation for123
coroners of the various counties shall be of full force and effect except where the same124
provides for a salary lower than provided in this Code section, in which event this Code125
section shall prevail."126
SECTION 3.127
Said chapter is further amended by repealing subsection (b) of Code Section 45-16-27,128
relating to when inquest to be held, special situations, coroner's fee, issuance of subpoenas,129
cost of copying, and limited disclosure of photographs, and designating said subsection as130
reserved.131
SECTION 4.132
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.133