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H0729......................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
INFANT DEATH - AUTOPSY - Amends existing law to require an autopsy under
specified conditions of unexplained infant death if the coroner records the
death as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
02/19 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/20 Rpt prt - to Jud
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]]
Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session - 2004
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. 729
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
1 AN ACT
2 RELATING TO DEATH OF AN INFANT; AMENDING SECTION 19-4301, IDAHO CODE, TO
3 REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS OF UNEXPLAINED INFANT DEATH
4 AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION.
5 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
6 SECTION 1. That Section 19-4301, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
7 amended to read as follows:
8 19-4301. CORONER TO INVESTIGATE DEATHS. (1) When a coroner is informed
9 that a person in his county has died:
10 (a) As a result of violence whether apparently homicidal, suicidal or
11 accidental, or
12 (b) Under suspicious or unknown circumstances, or
13 (c) When not attended by a physician during his last illness and the
14 cause of death cannot be certified by a physician, the coroner must refer
15 the investigation of the death to the sheriff of the county or the chief
16 of police of the city in which the incident causing death occurred; or, if
17 unknown, then in which the death occurred; or, if unknown, then in which
18 the body is found. The investigation shall be the responsibility of said
19 officer who, upon completion of his investigation, shall furnish a written
20 report of the result of such investigation to said coroner. The coroner of
21 said county must refer said case to the coroner of the county in which the
22 incident causing death occurred, if known, or if unknown, then in which
23 the death occurred, if known, to hold an inquest. Provided, however, that
24 a coroner shall conduct an inquest only if he has reasonable grounds to
25 believe that the death has occurred under any of the circumstances hereto-
26 fore stated in subsections 19-4301(1)(a) or 19-4301 (1)(b), Idaho Code of
27 this section. If so, he may summon six (6) persons qualified by law to
28 serve as jurors to appear before him to hold said inquest.
29 (2) When an infant under one (1) year of age has died suddenly and unex-
30 pectedly and the circumstances concerning the death are unexplained and the
31 coroner records the cause of death as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), an
32 autopsy shall be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all
33 of its branches who has special training in pathology.
34 Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the tenets of any
35 church or religious belief.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 13988
The purpose of this legislation is to require that if a
child under the age of one year dies suddenly and unexpectedly
and the coroner records sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)as the
cause of death, an autopsy must have been performed.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the general fund. The cost to the
counties of an autopsy is approximately $1,500. Since all SIDS
deaths were autopsied in 2002, no additional cost to counties is
anticipated.
Contact
Name: Representative Douglas
Phone: 332-1000
Name: Representative Henbest
Phone: 332-1000
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE H 729