Bill Text: PA HB1979 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Further providing for requests for examinations and reports and for official records of coroner.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 36-14)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-09-14 - Referred to LOCAL GOVERNMENT [HB1979 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1979-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2660
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1979 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, BAKER, BEAR, BRENNAN, CAUSER, CREIGHTON, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, FRANKEL, GABIG, GABLER, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HANNA, HARHART, HARKINS, HARRIS, KAUFFMAN, M. KELLER, MAJOR, MANN, MILLER, MOUL, MURT, OBERLANDER, PETRARCA, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, SOLOBAY, STERN, SWANGER AND TALLMAN, SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
AN ACT
Amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), entitled,
as amended, "An act relating to counties of the first, third,
fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth classes; amending,
revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating
thereto; relating to imposition of excise taxes by counties,
including authorizing imposition of an excise tax on the
rental of motor vehicles by counties of the first class; and
providing for regional renaissance initiatives," further
providing for requests for examinations and reports and for
official records of coroner.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1236.1 of the act of August 9, 1955
(P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, added November 29,
1990 (P.L.602, No.152), is amended to read:
Section 1236.1. Requests for Examinations and Reports.--(a)
Requests for examinations or other professional services by
other counties or persons may be complied with at the discretion
of the coroner pursuant to guidelines established by the county
commissioners.
(b) A set of fees and charges for such examinations or
professional services shall be established by the coroner,
subject to approval by the county commissioners, and shall be
accounted for and paid to the county treasurer pursuant to
section 1760. Payment for examinations or professional services
shall be the responsibility of the county or person requesting
such services.
(c) The coroner may charge and collect a fee of up to [one
hundred dollars ($100)] five hundred dollars ($500) for each
autopsy report, up to [fifty dollars ($50)] one hundred dollars
($100) for each toxicology report, up to [fifty dollars ($50)]
one hundred dollars ($100) for each inquisition or coroner's
report and such other fees as may be established from time to
time for other reports and documents requested by
nongovernmental agencies. The fees collected shall be accounted
for and paid to the county treasurer pursuant to section 1760
and shall be used to defray the expenses involved in the county
complying with the provisions of the act of March 2, 1988
(P.L.108, No.22), referred to as the Coroners' Education Board
Law.
Section 2. Section 1251 of the act is amended to read:
Section 1251. [Official] Records of Coroner.--(a) Every
coroner, within thirty (30) days after the end of each year,
shall [deposit all of his official records and papers for] file
the following information for each death investigated by the
coroner during the preceding year in the office of the
prothonotary for [the] public inspection [of all persons
interested therein.]:
(1) Name of decedent.
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(2) Address.
(3) Date of death.
(4) Cause and manner of death.
(5) Age.
(6) Sex.
(b) Examinations and reports under section 1236.1 and
sensitive or privileged information about a decedent's medical
history shall not be open to public inspection.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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