04/27/1996 09:50 AM Senate FIN

                                                                               
  CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 520(FIN)                                               
                                                                               
       An Act  relating to death investigations  and inquests,                 
       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.                                       
                                                                               
  Co-chairman Halford directed that CSHB  520 (Fin) be brought                 
  on for  discussion.   ART SNOWDEN,  Administrative Director,                 
  Alaska Court System,  came before committee.   He referenced                 
  first the fiscal notes accompanying  the bill and advised of                 
  a net zero effect.                                                           
                                                                               
  As background information, Mr.  Snowden explained that,  for                 
  many  years,  the  state  utilized   a  coroner  system  for                 
  determining death.   It  was a  problematic system  in which                 
  magistrates attempted to  determine the cause of  death, the                 
  state  paid for  autopsies,  and  supplementals were  needed                 
  every  year.    The legislature  created  a  partial medical                 
  examiner system several  years ago,  and a supplemental  was                 
  not requested this year because of better ability to control                 
  costs.                                                                       
                                                                               
  The  proposed  bill  is  supported  by  police, prosecution,                 
  courts, and the  Dept. of  Health and Social  Services.   It                 
  takes the remainder of the coroner system and moves the PCNs                 
  to the Dept.  of Health  and Social Services.   The  medical                 
  examiner  will  define  the cause  of  death.    Mr. Snowden                 
  attested  to  the  fact that  magistrates  are  not forensic                 
  pathologists.    He  described   problem    associated  with                 
  investigation of death in rural areas of Alaska.  The former                 
  coroner  system   created  many  problems  for   police  and                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  prosecution.  The  proposed bill solves those  problems, and                 
  the net cost is zero.                                                        
                                                                               
  Co-chairman  Halford  noted  automatic  pressure within  the                 
  court system budget  to keep use  down.  He suggested  there                 
  would  be less  pressure to  do so  in other  budgets.   Mr.                 
  Snowden responded that,  under the proposed bill,  the court                 
  system  would not  be  ordering autopsies.   A  true medical                 
  examiner  and  contracts  with  health  aids  can  precisely                 
  determine whether  an autopsy  is needed.   That should  cut                 
  down need for autopsies, over time.                                          
                                                                               
  Senator Zharoff cited problems relating  to return of bodies                 
  to  rural  areas  following  autopsies.    ELMER  LINDSTROM,                 
  Special Assistant, Dept. of Health  and Social Service, came                 
  before committee.   He said  that as a  former staffer to  a                 
  rural legislator, he was aware of  the problem.  Creation of                 
  the medical  examiner's office has  dramatically reduced the                 
  number  of transports of bodies  into Anchorage.  The office                 
  continues  to  provide  for return  to  the  home community,                 
  following examination.   The medical examiner has  proven to                 
  be a very  cost effective  system.  The  proposed bill  will                 
  contribute to further efficiencies.                                          
                                                                               
  Senator  Sharp  MOVED for  passage  of CSHB  520  (Fin) with                 
  individual recommendation and accompanying fiscal notes.  No                 
  objection having been  raised, CSHB  520 (Fin) was  REPORTED                 
  OUT of committee with a $287.6 note from the Dept. of Health                 
  and Social Services, a ($287.6)  note from the Court System,                 
  and  a  zero note  from  the Dept.  of  Public Safety.   All                 
  members  signed  the  committee  report  with  a  "do  pass"                 
  recommendation  with the  exception  of Senator  Donley  who                 
  signed "no recommendation."