Bill No.: HB0042                  Drafter:  LGC

LSO No.:  11LSO-0362              Effective Date:  7/1/2011

Enrolled Act No.:  HEA0087

Chapter No.:       144

Prime Sponsor:     Representative Gingery

Catch Title:       Coroner record confidentiality.

Subject:            Coroner record confidentiality.

Summary/Major Elements:

● This act provides a detailed process for maintaining confidentiality of coroner records.  The act requires a coroner to draw up and sign his verdict after viewing a body and completing his investigation. 

● The act also requires a coroner to make a written docket giving a description of the deceased person, his name, cause and manner of death including toxicology factors, age, date and time of death and a description of any property found with the decedent. 

● The act provides that the verdict and docket are public records.

● The act specifies that toxicology reports, photographs, video recordings or audio recordings made at the scene of the death or in the course of the postmortem examination or autopsy are not public records except for specific purposes or pursuant to a court order.

● This act provides penalties for release of toxicology reports, photographs, video recordings or audio recordings made at the scene of the death or in the course of the postmortem examination or autopsy.  This act also provides penalties for use of that information other than for the specific purpose for which it was released.