25 LC 56 0366S
House Bill 646 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Stinson of the 150
th
, Wade of the 9
th
, Jackson of the 128
th
, Reese of the
140
th
, and Herring of the 145
th
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 minimum salaries of coroners; to revise compensation provisions2
for deputy coroners; to provide for benefits to certain coroners; to remove certain death3
investigation fees; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal4
conflicting 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
At the beginning of each term of the12
coroner thereafter, the coroner of each county shall appoint a deputy coroner or coroners13
thereafter, the coroner of each county shall appoint a deputy coroner or coroners as14
provided in this Code section. A deputy coroner shall be appointed for each county, and15
one or more additional deputy coroners may be appointed for any county, in the discretion16
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of the coroner pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this Code section. Each17
deputy coroner shall serve at the pleasure of the coroner and may be replaced by the18
coroner at any time. Each deputy coroner shall take the same oath, give the same bond, be19
entitled to the same fees, and have the same powers as the coroner;, but a deputy coroner20
shall act as coroner only when the coroner is himself or herself unable to act.21
(b) No person shall be eligible to hold the office of deputy coroner unless he or she holds22
a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. Any deputy coroner who is in office23
on July 1, 1980, however, shall without limitation be eligible to serve as deputy coroner at24
any time after said date without regard to whether he or she meets the requirements of this25
subsection.26
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, there shall be appointed only one deputy27
coroner, and, on and after July 1, 1999, there shall only be one deputy coroner in each such28
county unless otherwise approved by the local governing authority of the county in the29
annual budget of the coroner's office.30
(d) A deputy coroner shall receive:31
(1) A fee of at least $250.00 for each case the deputy coroner works; and32
(2) A per diem of $100.00 for each day the deputy coroner does not work a case;33
provided, however, that a deputy coroner shall not be entitled to a per diem pursuant to34
this paragraph for more than 90 days in a calendar year; provided, further, that sufficient35
funds have been budgeted by the governing authority of the county.36
(e) As of January 1, 2026, any deputy coroner being compensated by a county in an37
amount greater than the compensation formulas provided in subsection (d) of this Code38
section shall not have his or her compensation reduced for the remainder of the term of the39
coroner."40
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SECTION 2.
41
Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 45-16-11, relating to compensation42
of county coroners, increases, calculation, supplements, and expenses, as follows:43
"45-16-11.44
(a)(1) Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the minimum annual salary of each45
coroner in any of the counties in this state in the following population brackets shall be46
fixed according to the population of the county in which he or she serves, as determined47
by the United States decennial census of 1990
2020 or any future such census. Except48
as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each such coroner shall receive49
an annual salary, payable in equal monthly installments from the funds of the coroner's50
county, of not less than the amount fixed in the following schedule:51
PopulationMinimum Salary52
0 — 11,889..........................................53 $ 1,200.00
11,890 — 19,999..........................................54 2,400.00
20,000 — 34,999..........................................55 3,600.00
0 — 5,999..........................................56 $17,700.00
6,000 — 11,889..........................................57 20,000.00
11,890 — 19,999..........................................58 25,000.00
20,000 — 28,999..........................................59 30,000.00
29,000 — 38,999..........................................60 35,000.00
39,000 — 49,999..........................................61 40,000.00
50,000 — 74,999..........................................62 45,000.00
75,000 — 99,999..........................................63 50,000.00
100,000 — 149,999..........................................64 55,000.00
150,000 — 199,999..........................................65 70,000.00
200,000 — 249,999..........................................66 80,000.00
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250,000 — 299,999..........................................67 90,000.00
300,000 — 399,999..........................................68 95,000.00
400,000 — 499,999..........................................69 100,000.00
500,000 or more.............................................70 105,000.00
(2) Whenever, after January 1, 2026, the state employees subject to compensation plans71
authorized and approved in accordance with Code Section 45-20-4 receive a72
cost-of-living increase or general performance based increase of a certain percentage or73
a certain amount, the amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule in paragraph (1) of74
this subsection, and in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts derived by increasing75
each of said amounts through the application of longevity increases pursuant to76
subsection (b) of this Code section, where applicable, shall be increased by the same77
percentage or same amount applicable to such state employees. If the cost-of-living78
increase or general performance based increase received by state employees is in different79
percentages or different amounts as to certain categories of employees, the amounts fixed80
in the minimum salary schedule in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and in Code81
Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts derived through the application of longevity82
increases, shall be increased by a percentage or an amount not to exceed the average83
percentage or average amount of the general increase in salary granted to the state84
employees. The Office of Planning and Budget shall calculate the average percentage85
increase or average amount increase when necessary. The periodic changes in the86
amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule in paragraph (1) of this subsection, and87
in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts derived through the application of longevity88
increases, as authorized by this paragraph shall become effective on the first day of89
January following the date that the cost-of-living increases received by state employees90
become effective; provided, however, that, if the cost-of-living increases or general91
performance based increases received by state employees become effective on January 1,92
such periodic changes in the amounts fixed in the minimum salary schedule in93
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paragraph (1) of this subsection, and in Code Section 45-16-11.1, or the amounts derived
94
through the application of longevity increases, as authorized by this paragraph shall95
become effective on the same date that the cost-of-living increases or general96
performance based increases received by state employees become effective.97
(3) The county governing authority may supplement the minimum annual salary of the98
coroner in such amount as it may fix from time to time; but no coroner's compensation99
supplement shall be decreased during any term of office. Any prior expenditure of100
county funds to supplement the coroner's salary in the manner authorized by this101
paragraph is ratified and confirmed. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall prohibit102
the General Assembly by local law from supplementing the annual salary of the coroner.103
(a.1) In the event that the coroner or his or her immediate predecessor spent at least 2,080
104
hours on duties related to his or her role as the coroner and the coroner's office in such105
county administered at least 100 death investigations in the preceding calendar year, the106
county governing authority shall provide the coroner the same employment benefits it107
provides the clerk of the superior court, judge of the probate court, sheriff, or tax108
commissioner.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 2024, effective the first day of January following the completion of114
each 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 salary
120
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
2026; provided, however, that successors to such coroners in office on125
July 1, 2001 2026, shall be governed by the provisions of this Code section. All local126
legislation in effect on July 1, 2001 January 1, 2026, or enacted thereafter affecting127
compensation for coroners of the various counties shall be of full force and effect except128
where the same provides for a salary lower than provided in this Code section, in which129
event this Code section shall prevail."130
SECTION 3.131
Said chapter is further amended by repealing subsections (b) and (b.1) of Code132
Section 45-16-27, relating to when inquest to be held, special situations, coroner's fee,133
issuance of subpoenas, cost of copying, and limited disclosure of photographs, and134
designating subsection (b) as reserved.135
SECTION 4.136
This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026.137
SECTION 5.138
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.139
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