25.570.12 100th Legislative Session 72
2025 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 72
SENATE ENGROSSED
Introduced by: Senator Hulse
Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
An Act to revise the payor of autopsy costs in certain circumstances. 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 2
Section 1. That § 23-14-9.2 be AMENDED: 3
23-14-9.2. A physician or surgeon appointed under § 23-14-9.1, or the coroner if 4
the coroner is a physician or surgeon providing services pursuant to § 23-14-9.1, shall 5
receive a reasonable fee for his services to be ascertained and rendered, as approved by 6
the board of county commissioners and paid. The board shall pay the fee out of the general 7
fund of the county. If the coroner is a physician or surgeon, he may personally perform 8
such autopsy; and he shall receive a reasonable fee for his services to be ascertained and 9
approved by the board of county commissioners and paid out of the general fund of the 10
county. 11
If the The decedent's county of residence must reimburse the county in which the 12
autopsy occurred for the cost of the autopsy if: 13
(1) The death or autopsy occurs occurred in a county other than the decedents' 14
decedent's county of residence, the county of residence shall reimburse the county 15
where the autopsy occurred for the cost of the autopsy, provided that the; and 16
(2) The county of residence either requested requested the autopsy or is the site where 17
the accident or injury leading to the death occurred. 18
If a perpetrator of a crime dies during the commission of the crime, or the 19
perpetrator commits suicide subsequent to the commission of the crime, the county that 20
paid for the autopsy may recover the cost of the autopsy and any other related expenses 21
from the perpetrator's estate. 22