Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/13/1996 01:45 PM House FIN
Audio | Topic |
---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL 520 "An Act relating to death investigations and inquests, 6 coroners, public administrators, and medical examiners, including the state medical examiner; relating to the jurisdiction of district court judges and magistrates in certain cases involving death." ARTHUR SNOWDEN II, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COURT SYSTEM, spoke to HB 520 which would create a unified death investigation system under the authority of the State Medical Examiner within the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). The bill has a net zero cost with funds transferred from the Alaska Court System to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) reflecting the transfer of death investigation responsibilities. Co-Chair Foster MOVED to adopt work draft #9-LS1678\C, Lauterbach, 3/12/96, as the version before the Committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Mr. Snowden provided background history on the coroner system used in Alaska. He emphasized that the old system did not work well. Magistrates have no knowledge of forensic pathology. If a magistrate declared the purpose of death, and then left town, a case could not be brought forth, without being subject to challenge. That system was used because there was no other alternative. Using that system, costs have always been significant. Mr. Snowden established that a number of years ago, the State Legislature provided funding for a State Medical Lab in Anchorage. The proposed legislation would provide for a professional medical examiner to better support the criminal justice system, by investigating deaths of concern to public health officers. The version before the Committee would leave the public administrator functions in the Court System. All other services would be moved to DHSS. Mr. Snowden spoke to Amendment #1. [Copy on file]. He pointed out that Amendment #1 would address technical changes. Representative Grussendorf MOVED to adopt Amendment #1. ELMER LINDSTROM, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE COMMISSIONER, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, stated that Amendment #1 had resulted from suggestions made by Terry Lauterbach, legal drafter. There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment #1 was adopted. Mr. Lindstrom stated that DHSS supports the proposed legislation. The role of the medical examiner has been successfully seated in that Department. Historically, supplemental requests have been made to address that concern. He pointed out that this is the first year that a need does not exist for a supplemental request or a 7 reallocation within the Division of Public Health. The legislation will provide further tools to curtail costs in that area. Mr. Lindstrom added that a new fiscal note would reflect the action taken through the House Finance Committee substitute corresponding to the Court System fiscal note. The fiscal note reflects the public administrator position remaining in the Court System. Representative Brown inquired if the State examiner would be required to fill out a Certificate of Death for everyone. Mr. Lindstrom responded that the proposed legislation would not provide a change to that process. If the death is referred to the State medical examiner, it would not necessarily be the medical examiner who fills out the death certificate, but would be filed under that authority. Mr. Lindstrom understood that every death in the State should have a death certificate. Representative Brown noted that HB 371 had been provided a DHSS fiscal note for the costs associated with changing a death certificate. Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report CS HB 520 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CS HB 520 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with fiscal notes by the Alaska Court System and the Department of Health and Social Services and a zero fiscal note by the Department of Public Safety.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|