HLS 15RS-364 REENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 195
BY REPRESENTATIVE JIM MORRIS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CORONERS: Provides with respect to the office of coroner
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 9:111(B) and R.S. 13:5705 and 5712(A), relative to coroners;
3 to provide relative to the information upon which the coroner bases the medical
4 pronouncement of death; to provide for the notification of death to the coroner; to
5 provide relative to the appointment of deputy and assistant coroners and their
6 qualifications; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 9:111(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §111. Definition of death
10 * * *
11 B. The medical pronouncement of death by a coroner may also be based on
12 personal observation, information, or statements obtained from coroner investigators,
13 registered nurses, physician assistants, or emergency medical technicians at the scene
14 who are reporting from firsthand observation of the physical condition of the
15 deceased. The time of death shall be reported as the time that the death was reported
16 or discovered. The name of the personnel that the coroner is relying on shall be
17 noted on the coroner's day record or protocol investigative report.
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HB NO. 195
1 Section 2. R.S. 13:5705 and 5712(A) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
2follows:
3 §5705. Deputy coroners, assistant coroners, secretaries, stenographers, clerks,
4 investigators, technicians, official photographer and other helpers;
5 compensation
6 A. Each coroner may appoint one or more deputy or assistant coroners to
7 perform his duties, who need not be residents of the parish. However, any person
8 appointed as a deputy or assistant coroner, who is not a resident of the parish, shall
9 be a licensed physician. They shall possess the same qualifications as the coroner
10 and be paid by the coroner appointing them or by arrangement with the parish
11 governing authority if the coroner is on a salary basis. A person may serve as a
12 deputy or assistant coroner on a part-time basis in more than one parish. The tenure
13 of the appointment shall be determined by the appointing coroner but shall not be
14 longer than the coroner's term of office. The coroner shall be responsible for the acts
15 of his deputy or assistant coroners.
16 B. Each coroner may appoint one or more assistant coroners to perform his
17 duties. They shall be paid by the coroner appointing them or by arrangement with
18 the parish governing authority if the coroner is paid on a salary basis. A person may
19 serve as an assistant coroner on a part-time basis in more than one parish. The tenure
20 of the appointment shall be determined by the appointing coroner but shall not be
21 longer than the coroner's term of office. The coroner shall be responsible for the acts
22 of his assistant coroners.
23 C. The coroner may appoint any necessary secretaries, stenographers, clerks,
24 technicians, investigators, official photographers, or other helpers. The salaries of
25 these employees shall be paid by the coroner out of his fees or by arrangement with
26 the parish governing authority if the coroner is on a salary basis. All deputies and
27 assistants of the coroner shall, before beginning their duties, take an oath of office
28 and the oath shall be entered on the records of the court.
29 * * *
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HB NO. 195
1 §5712. Notification of death under suspicious circumstances; penalties for failure
2 to comply
3 A. A physician or other person having knowledge of a death under sudden,
4 accidental, violent, or suspicious circumstances or without medical attendance within
5 thirty-six twenty-four hours prior to death shall immediately notify the coroner of the
6 death.
7 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 195 Reengrossed 2015 Regular Session Jim Morris
Abstract: Provides for the appointment of one or more assistant coroners in addition to the
appointment of one or more deputy coroners, requires deputy and assistant coroners
to take an oath of office, and requires certain persons to immediately notify the
coroner of a death under certain circumstances.
Present law provides that the medical pronouncement of death by a coroner may be based
on personal observation, information, or statements obtained from coroner investigators or
emergency medical technicians at the scene who are reporting from firsthand observation
of the physical condition of the deceased. Provides that the name of the personnel that the
coroner is relying on shall be noted on the coroner's day record or protocol.
Proposed law retains present law and adds registered nurses and physician assistants to the
list of persons upon whose information the coroner may base the medical pronouncement
of death, and changes the term "day record or protocol" to "investigative report".
Present law provides that each coroner may appoint one or more deputy or assistant coroners
who possess the same qualifications as the coroner and who need not be residents of the
parish, but requires that if a deputy or assistant coroner is not a resident of the parish, that
person shall be a licensed physician.
Proposed law retains present law relative to deputy coroners, but provides that in addition
to one or more deputy coroners, the coroner may also appoint one or more assistant coroners
who are not required to have the same qualifications as the coroner.
Proposed law authorizes an assistant coroner to serve on a part-time basis for a term not to
exceed that of the coroner, and who may serve as an assistant coroner in more than one
parish.
Proposed law requires all deputy and assistant coroners to take an oath of office.
Present law requires a physician or other person having knowledge of a death under sudden,
accidental, violent, or suspicious circumstances or without medical attendance within 36
hours prior to death to immediately notify the coroner of the death.
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HB NO. 195
Proposed law reduces the time period from 36 hours to 24 hours.
(Amends R.S. 9:111(B) and R.S. 13:5705 and 5712(A))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.