HOUSE BILL NO. 225 An Act relating to medical examiners and medical death examinations. REPRESENTATIVE LESIL MCGUIRE, SPONSOR, noted that last year alone, there were nearly 1,100 cases filed with the State of Alaska's medical examiner's office. All of the cases require responsibilities ranging from autopsies, administrative duties and legal responsibilities. With such a sizeable caseload, one more medical examiner is needed. The one State medical examiner has been stretched thin with the caseload. Currently autopsies are required only when the death was suspicious or if there was a crime involved. When forced to pick and choose cases, something could be overlooked in the remaining cases that did not receive needed attention. Additional consideration needs to be given to what happens if medical examiners became ill or for any reason cannot fulfill their duties. Representative McGuire continued that the position of the State medical examiner is a critical function in the State and has a tremendous responsibility. The fact that there is such as large caseload for only one medical examiner has become a growing concern for policy makers, law enforcement officials and the community. Under current State law, the commissioner of Department of Health & Social Services is required to appoint only a medical examiner. HB 225 would require that the commissioner appoint both a chief medical examiner and a deputy medical examiner to share the extensive workload. 4:40:47 PM OFFICER MIKE COUTURIER, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), VICE-PRESIDENT, ANCHORAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE, voiced the Department's need and support for a new deputy medical examiner. There is an operative margin for first time responders for the City of Anchorage and the State at large. He urged the Committee's support. 4:44:40 PM DR. DON ROGERS, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), CORONER, ANCHORAGE, spoke in support of the bill. He pointed out that when the function was shifted from the Court System to the Department of Health & Social Services, the coroners were instructed to do less; they, at that time, were doing more autopsies than anyone in the country. He pointed out that until an autopsy is performed, the family does not know whether it is needed or not. He added that he performs approximately 25 autopsies per year; most are people that die suddenly and/or unexpectedly. He recommended that there needs to be a change of policy within the Department of Health & Social Services and the bill would help to address that policy. He urged support of the legislation. 4:47:01 PM Representative Hawker indicated that the subcommittee had attempted for two years to get the funding into the budget for the position. He noted that the House had included the $100 thousand dollar funding, however, it did not survive the Senate. 4:47:47 PM Co-Chair Meyer pointed out that the fiscal note does not indicate the request in the 2006 budget. He noted for the record that the House intends to fund the position and that it will be addressed in Conference Committee. 4:48:44 PM Co-Chair Chenault commented that it is a justifiable position and that the Legislature should mandate that the Department's commissioner to address it. Co-Chair Meyer suggested the note be modified. Representative Hawker did not think the bill should require additional personnel. 4:50:29 PM Representative McGuire agreed with the comments of Representative Hawker. If the Department wanted to pull someone from within the ranks and make them deputy medical examiner, that could work. She noted that it was not the intent to micromanage the Division. 4:51:36 PM Representative Hawker recommended that the note as written, suits the system. Representative Kelly agreed it should be addressed, however, cautioned that the language should indicate the Committee's intent. Representative Foster MOVED to report HB 225 out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 225 was reported out of Committee with a "no recommendation" and with zero note #1 by the Department of Health & Social Services. 4:53:08 PM