HB333 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Artis McCampbellRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Coroners and deputy coroners, duties, delivery of deceased's possessions to county treasurer, limitations on coroner's investigation, power and authority of peace officer, penalties, Secs. 15-4-2, 15-4-10 am'd.

Summary

HB333 would expand coroner duties to include autopsies and evidence handling, extend the time to deliver a deceased person’s money or property to the county, and set new limits and penalties for coroner investigations.

What This Bill Does

It expands the coroner's duties to perform autopsies, take possession of objects and medical specimens that help determine the cause of death, and retain or test such items as needed. It extends the deadline to deliver money and property found with the deceased to the county treasurer from 30 days to 90 days, with rules for depositing money, selling other property, and paying heirs or crediting the county. It limits coroner investigations to determining cause, manner, identity, and surrounding circumstances, requires notification to law enforcement if foul play is suspected, and addresses disposal of prescription medications found. It establishes penalties for violations, designates coroners as full-time officials, and grants them powers such as administering oaths, seizing evidence, detaining at the scene, and ordering postmortem examinations when appropriate.

Who It Affects

• Coroners and deputy coroners: their duties are expanded to include autopsies, possession of objects and specimens, testing, evidence retention, and broader investigative powers; they are designated as full-time officials and face new penalties for noncompliance.
• Families/estate representatives and county government: the handling of money and property found with a deceased person changes to a 90-day delivery requirement to the county treasurer, with specified methods for depositing funds, selling property, and distributing or reclaiming assets.

Key Provisions

• Expands coroner duties to perform autopsies and collect objects or medical specimens that may help establish cause of death, with authority to conduct required tests and retain items for evidence purposes.
• Delays the deadline for delivering money or property found with the deceased to the county treasurer from 30 days to 90 days, and outlines how money and property are to be handled and credited to the county or paid to heirs.
• Limits the scope of coroner investigations to determine cause, manner, identity, and surrounding circumstances; requires notification to law enforcement if foul play is suspected and addresses handling of prescription medications found at a death scene.
• Establishes penalties for violations (Class C felony), confirms coroners as full-time officials, and enumerates powers (oaths, seizure of evidence, detaining at scene, medical records production, etc.) with a provision for postmortem examinations when needed.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Coroners