SB148 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Holley

Republican

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

SB148 updates coroner duties, extends the deadline to hand over assets of the deceased, and adds investigation limits and penalties.

What This Bill Does

It expands the coroner's role to include autopsies and possession of objects or specimens that help determine cause of death, with authority to seize evidence and order examinations. It increases the deadline for delivering money and property found on the deceased from 30 days to 90 days. It limits the scope of a coroner's investigation to cause, manner, identity, and surrounding circumstances, and requires notifying law enforcement if foul play is suspected; violations carry a Class C felony penalty. It also makes coroners full-time officials and notes the bill is exempt from certain local-funds requirements due to creating new crimes or amending crimes.

Who It Affects

• Coroners and deputy coroners, who gain expanded duties, powers (autopsy authority, evidence seizure, oaths, record production), and potential Class C felony penalties for noncompliance.
• Families or legal representatives of the deceased and the county treasurer, who face a longer 90-day period to deliver money and property found with the deceased and rules for handling and paying out that property or funds.

Key Provisions

• Amends 15-4-2 to require coroners to perform autopsies when warranted, obtain possession of objects or specimens to help establish cause of death, and retain such items for potential criminal proceedings.
• Raises the deadline to deliver money and property found on the body to the county treasurer from 30 to 90 days, with procedures for handling, selling, and paying out such property or funds.
• Defines coroner powers and duties (administer oaths, seize evidence, detain at scene, require production of records, hire specialized photographers) and limits investigations to determine cause, manner, identity, and surrounding circumstances, with mandatory law enforcement notification if foul play is suspected.
• Establishes penalties: a violation of the act is a Class C felony, and coroners are considered full-time officials for purposes of related laws, with explicit exemption from Amendment 621 local-funds requirements due to creating or amending crimes.

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