24 LC 47 2949S
The House Committee on Governmental Affairs offers the following substitute to HB 625:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 16 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1
coroners, so as to provide minimum salaries of coroners; to revise compensation provisions2
for deputy coroners; to provide for benefits to certain coroners and deputy coroners; to3
remove certain death investigation fees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting4
laws; and for other 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
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replaced by the coroner at any time. Each deputy coroner shall take the same oath, give17
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. Unless28
higher compensation is otherwise approved by the local governing authority of the county,29
deputy coroners shall receive the following compensation:30
(1) A fee of $250.00 for each case worked by the deputy coroner; and31
(2) A per diem of $100.00 for each day the deputy coroner does not work a case;32
provided, however, that a deputy coroner shall not be entitled to a per diem pursuant to33
this paragraph for more than 90 days in a calendar year.34
(d) As of July 1, 2024, any deputy coroner being compensated by a county in an amount35
greater than the compensation formulas provided in subsection (c) of this Code section36
shall not have their compensation reduced for the remainder of the term of the coroner."37
SECTION 2.38
Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 45-16-11, relating to compensation39
of county coroners, increases, calculation, supplements, and expenses, as follows:40
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"45-16-11.41
(a)(1) Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the minimum annual salary of each42
coroner in any of the counties in this state in the following population brackets shall be43
fixed according to the population of the county in which he or she serves, as determined44
by the United States decennial census of 1990 2020 or any future such census. Except45
as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each such coroner shall receive46
an annual salary, payable in equal monthly installments from the funds of the coroner's47
county, of not less than the amount fixed in the following schedule:48
Population Minimum Salary49
0 — 11,889..........................................50 $ 1,200.00
11,890 — 19,999..........................................51 2,400.00
20,000 — 34,999..........................................52 3,600.00
0 — 5,999..........................................53 $17,700.00
6,000 — 11,889..........................................54 $20,000.00
11,890 — 19,999..........................................55 $25,000.00
20,000 — 28,999..........................................56 $30,000.00
29,000 — 38,999..........................................57 $35,000.00
39,000 — 49,999..........................................58 $40,000.00
50,000 — 74,999..........................................59 $45,000.00
75,000 — 99,999..........................................60 $50,000.00
100,000 — 149,999..........................................61 $55,000.00
150,000 — 199,999..........................................62 $70,000.00
200,000 — 249,000..........................................63 $80,000.00
250,000 — 299,999..........................................64 $90,000.00
300,000 — 399,999..........................................65 $95,000.00
400,000 — 499,999..........................................66 $100,000.00
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500,000 or more.............................................67 $105,000.00
(2) Whenever the state employees subject to compensation plans authorized and68
approved in accordance with Code Section 45-20-4 receive a cost-of-living increase or69
general performance based increase of a certain percentage or a certain amount, the70
amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and71
in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts derived by increasing each of said amounts72
through the application of longevity increases pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code73
section, where applicable, shall be increased by the same percentage or same amount74
applicable to such state employees. If the cost-of-living increase or general performance75
based increase received by state employees is in different percentages or different76
amounts as to certain categories of employees, the amounts fixed in the minimum salary77
schedule in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the78
amounts derived through the application of longevity increases, shall be increased by a79
percentage or an amount not to exceed the average percentage or average amount of the80
general increase in salary granted to the state employees. The Office of Planning and81
Budget shall calculate the average percentage increase or average amount increase when82
necessary. The periodic changes in the amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule83
in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts84
derived through the application of longevity increases, as authorized by this paragraph85
shall become effective on the first day of January following the date that the86
cost-of-living increases received by state employees become effective; provided,87
however, that if the cost-of-living increases or general performance based increases88
received by state employees become effective on January 1, such periodic changes in the89
amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and90
in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts derived through the application of longevity91
increases, as authorized by this paragraph shall become effective on the same date that92
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the cost-of-living increases or general performance based increases received by state93
employees become effective.94
(3) The county governing authority may supplement the minimum annual salary of the95
coroner in such amount as it may fix from time to time; but no coroner's compensation96
supplement shall be decreased during any term of office. Any prior expenditure of97
county funds to supplement the coroner's salary in the manner authorized by this98
paragraph is ratified and confirmed. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall prohibit99
the General Assembly by local law from supplementing the annual salary of the coroner.100
(a.1)(1) In the event that the coroner or his or her immediate predecessor spent at101
least 2,080 hours on duties related to his or her role as the coroner and the coroner's office102
in such county administered at least 75 cases in the preceding calendar year, the county103
governing authority shall provide the coroner the same employment benefits it provides104
the clerk of the superior court, judge of the probate court, sheriff, and tax commissioner.105
(2) In the event that a deputy coroner worked at least 75 cases and spent at least 2,080106
hours on duties related to his or her role as a deputy coroner in the preceding calendar107
year, the county governing authority may provide the deputy coroner the same108
employment benefits it provides to full-time county employees.109
(b) The amounts provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section and Code110
Section 45-16-11.1, as increased by paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section,111
shall be increased by multiplying said amounts by the percentage which equals 5 percent112
times the number of completed four-year terms of office served by any coroner after113
December 31, 2000, effective the first day of January following the completion of each114
such period of service.115
(c) The minimum salaries provided for under this Code section shall be in addition to any116
fees, including the death investigation fee provided for under subsection (b) of Code117
Section 45-16-27, paid by the county governing authority to the coroner on a per-call basis118
and in addition to any expenses Reserved.119
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(d) The minimum salaries provided for in this Code section shall be considered as salary120
only. Expenses for deputies, equipment, supplies, copying equipment, and other necessary121
and reasonable expenses for the operation of a coroner's office shall come from funds other122
than the funds specified as salary in this Code section.123
(e) This Code section shall not be construed to reduce the salary of any coroner in office124
on July 1, 2001 2024; provided, however, that successors to such coroners in office on125
July 1, 2001 2024, shall be governed by the provisions of this Code section. All local126
legislation in effect on July 1, 2001 2024, or enacted thereafter affecting compensation for127
coroners of the various counties shall be of full force and effect except where the same128
provides for a salary lower than provided in this Code section, in which event this Code129
section shall prevail."130
SECTION 3.131
Said chapter is further amended by repealing subsection (b) of Code Section 45-16-27,132
relating to when inquest to be held, special situations, coroner's fee, issuance of subpoenas,133
cost of copying, and limited disclosure of photographs, and designating said subsection as134
reserved.135
SECTION 4.136
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.137
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