Missouri Senate

Introduced

This act establishes the Coroner Standards and Training Commission within the Department of Public Safety which shall establish training standards relating to the operation, responsibilities, and technical skills of the office of county coroner. The membership of the commission is set forth in the act.

Currently, $1,000 of a county coroner's salary shall only be payable if he or she completes at least 20 hours of classroom instruction each year relating to the operations of the coroner's office when approved by a professional association of county coroners of Missouri. This act provides that the Coroners Standards and Training Commission shall establish and certify such training programs and their completion shall be submitted to the Missouri Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Association. Upon the Association's validation of certified training, it shall then submit the individual's name to the county treasurer and Department of Health and Senior Services indicating his or her compliance.

This act creates the Missouri State Coroner's Training Fund. For any death certificate issued, there shall be a fee of one dollar deposited into the fund which shall be used by the Missouri Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Association for the purpose of in-state training, equipment, and necessary supplies, and to provide aid to training programs approved by the Missouri Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Association.

During states of emergency or disasters, local registrars may request reimbursement from the fund for copies of death certificates issued to individuals who are unable to afford the associated fees.

This act provides that if a coroner or deputy coroner is not current with, or is without, the approved training required under this act, then the Department of Health and Senior Services shall prohibit such coroner from attesting to the accuracy of a death certificate.

This act is identical to SCS/HCS/HB 2079 (2018), and similar to SB 1020 (2018).

CHARLEY MERRIWEATHER