1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health; modifying requirements relating to the provision of cause of
1.3 death information; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.221, by adding
1.4 a subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.221, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.7to read:
1.8 Subd. 2a.Investigated natural deaths.(a) If a medical examiner or coroner investigates
1.9a death and declines jurisdiction based on the medical examiner's or coroner's determination
1.10that the death was due to natural causes, cause of death information for the death must be
1.11provided by:
1.12 (1) a physician present at the time of death;
1.13 (2) a physician or associate of a physician who provided medical treatment for the
1.14deceased before death; or
1.15 (3) a physician who has direct knowledge of the circumstances and cause of death and
1.16has access to the medical record of the deceased.
1.17 (b) If there is no physician meeting the description in paragraph (a), clause (1) or (3), a
1.18physician or associate of a physician meeting the description in paragraph (a), clause (2),
1.19has 72 hours to complete the requirements in paragraph (a) after the individual receives
1.20notification that:
1.21 (1) the medical examiner or coroner declined jurisdiction; and
1.22 (2) no physician meeting the description in paragraph (a), clause (1) or (3), exists.
1Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/MI 25-0310102/20/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 1727
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION 2.1 (c) A medical examiner or coroner that has declined jurisdiction may provide cause of
2.2death information if:
2.3 (1) the time period for the information to be provided by a physician or associate of a
2.4physician set forth in paragraph (b) has elapsed; or
2.5 (2) the medical examiner or coroner has received a statement that the physician or
2.6associate of a physician refuses to provide the cause of death information.
2.7 (d) If a medical examiner or coroner that has declined jurisdiction provides cause of
2.8death information pursuant to paragraph (c), the medical examiner or coroner may recover
2.9all costs incurred in providing the information from the refusing physician or associate of
2.10a physician or from the facility or organization that employs the refusing physician or
2.11associate of a physician at the time of refusal.
2Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/MI 25-0310102/20/25