HB581 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy WoodRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Coroners and deputy coroners, duties, reimbursement of physicians and surgeons, delivery of deceased's possessions to county treasurer, limitations on coroner's investigation, power and authority of peace officer, provision for fees for certain examinations by physicians and surgeons repealed, penalties, Secs. 15-4-2, 15-4-10 am'd.; Sec. 15-4-11 repealed

Summary

HB581 expands coroner duties and powers, adds autopsy and evidence-handling requirements, and changes how death investigations are funded and enforced.

What This Bill Does

It requires coroners to perform autopsies and take possession of objects to help determine death, and gives them full peace officer powers. It changes the deadline for delivering money and property of the deceased to the county treasurer from 30 days to 90 days and sets limits on how a coroner can investigate. It repeals the current physician fee provisions for postmortems and autopsies and establishes penalties for noncompliance, while making coroners full-time officials with benefits.

Who It Affects

• Coroners and deputy coroners: their duties are expanded to include autopsy duties, evidence possession, enhanced investigative powers, and they become full-time employees with benefits.
• Physicians and surgeons who perform postmortem examinations: the bill repeals existing payment provisions for postmortems, autopsies, and external examinations.

Key Provisions

• Coroners may perform autopsies, take possession of objects and medical specimens, conduct necessary tests, and retain these items for potential use in prosecutions, with procedures for keeping or producing them as needed.
• Money or property found with the deceased must be delivered to the county treasurer within 90 days (instead of 30). The treasurer may pursue collection if not delivered, and proceeds go to the county; unclaimed money may be paid to legal representatives after deductions.
• Investigation by the coroner is limited to determining cause and manner of death, identity, and surrounding circumstances. If foul play is suspected, the coroner must notify and cooperate with law enforcement, and prescription medications found at the scene must be disposed of per guidelines.
• The coroner may order postmortems in cases such as homicide, suicide, presence of drugs or poisons, certain vehicle accidents, deaths in custody, and other specified scenarios to determine the cause of death.
• Certified coroners shall have full peace officer powers (arrest, bear arms) and can administer oaths, seize evidence, detain persons at the scene, demand medical records, hire photographers, and spend office funds as needed.
• Violations of the act are Class C felonies.
• Section 15-4-11 fees for physicians/surgeons related to postmortem, autopsy, and internal examinations are repealed.
• Coroners shall be considered full-time employees with benefits equivalent to other peace officers or county employees.
• The bill is exempt from certain local expenditure controls (Amendment 621) because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Coroners