RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 578 (SB 241) 2016 Regular Session Milkovich
Prior law provided that autopsy reports prepared by the coroner or his designee are public
records. The coroner shall provide one copy of the autopsy report upon request by the next
of kin at no charge to the next of kin.
New law provides that the coroner shall provide one copy of the autopsy report at no charge
upon request by the parent, spouse, sibling, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, or
next of kin if there are none of the enumerated surviving relatives.
Prior law provided that the coroner shall provide copies of the autopsy report at no charge
to the appropriate law enforcement agencies as requested.
New law retains prior law and adds that the coroner shall also provide copies of the records,
writings, and documents of any description in any way compiled, drafted or recorded in
connection with an autopsy at no charge to the appropriate law enforcement agencies as
requested.
Prior law provided that the public records fee for any other copy of an autopsy report shall
be the same as that charged by the registrar of vital records for the state for a death
certificate.
New law retains prior law and provides that the records, writings, and documents of any
descriptions in any way compiled, drafted, or recorded in connection with an autopsy shall
be provided by the coroner to the enumerated relatives or next of kin upon payment of a
reasonable copying charge.
New law adds that the provisions of new law shall not apply to the decedent's medical
records.
New law provides that records, writings, and documents in any way compiled, drafted, or
recorded in connection with an autopsy generated by a public entity other than a coroner
shall be obtained from the public entity generating those records, writings, and documents.
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 17, 2016).
(Amends R.S. 13:5713(J))