ENROLLED
ACT No. 302
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 195
BY REPRESENTATIVE JIM MORRIS
1 AN ACT
2 To 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.
7 Be 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.
18 Section 2. R.S. 13:5705 and 5712(A) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
19 follows:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 195 ENROLLED
1 §5705. Deputy coroners, assistant coroners, secretaries, stenographers, clerks,
2 investigators, technicians, official photographer and other helpers;
3 compensation
4 A. Each coroner may appoint one or more deputy or assistant coroners to
5 perform his duties, who need not be residents of the parish. However, any person
6 appointed as a deputy or assistant coroner, who is not a resident of the parish, shall
7 be a licensed physician. They shall possess at least the same qualifications as the
8 coroner and be paid by the coroner appointing them or by arrangement with the
9 parish governing authority if the coroner is on a salary basis. A person may serve
10 as a deputy or assistant coroner on a part-time basis in more than one parish. The
11 tenure of the appointment shall be determined by the appointing coroner but shall not
12 be longer than the coroner's term of office. The coroner shall be responsible for the
13 acts of his deputy or assistant coroners.
14 B. Each coroner may appoint one or more assistant coroners to perform his
15 duties. They shall be paid by the coroner appointing them or by arrangement with
16 the parish governing authority if the coroner is paid on a salary basis. A person may
17 serve as an assistant coroner on a part-time basis in more than one parish. The tenure
18 of the appointment shall be determined by the appointing coroner but shall not be
19 longer than the coroner's term of office. The coroner shall be responsible for the acts
20 of his assistant coroners.
21 C. The coroner may appoint any necessary secretaries, stenographers, clerks,
22 technicians, investigators, official photographers, or other helpers. The salaries of
23 these employees shall be paid by the coroner out of his fees or by arrangement with
24 the parish governing authority if the coroner is on a salary basis. All deputies and
25 assistants of the coroner shall, before beginning their duties, take an oath of office
26 and the oath shall be entered on the records of the court.
27 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 195 ENROLLED
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 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.