S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6599--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. DILAN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Correction -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
   as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the correction law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   office of chief medical examiner

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 12 to
 read as follows:
   § 12. OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER.  1.  THERE  SHALL  BE  IN  THE
 DEPARTMENT AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER, CONSIST-
 ING  OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER, A DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER, AND
 EIGHT ASSOCIATE MEDICAL EXAMINERS, ALL OF WHOM SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE
 GOVERNOR AND BE DOCTORS OF MEDICINE WITH  A  CERTIFICATION  IN  FORENSIC
 PATHOLOGY AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN DEATH INVESTIGATIONS.
   2.  THE COMMISSIONER WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL EXAM-
 INER SHALL EXERCISE THE POWERS AND DUTIES SET FORTH IN THIS CHAPTER, BUT
 SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PERFORMANCE BY THE CHIEF  MEDICAL  EXAMINER
 OR THEIR OFFICE OF THE POWERS AND DUTIES PRESCRIBED BY THE PROVISIONS OF
 THIS SECTION OR ANY OTHER LAW.
   3. THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER OR THEIR DESIGNEE SHALL HAVE SUCH POWERS
 AND  DUTIES  AS  MAY  BE PROVIDED BY LAW IN RESPECT TO BODIES OF PERSONS
 DYING IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED
 TO:
   (A) CONDUCTING INDEPENDENT  AUTOPSIES,  FORENSIC  INVESTIGATIONS,  AND
 COLLECTING DATA FOR ALL DEATHS IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES;
   (B)  REQUIRING  THE  ATTENDANCE  AND TAKE TESTIMONY UNDER OATH OF SUCH
 PERSONS AS SUCH CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER MAY DEEM NECESSARY AND TO REQUIRE
 THE PRODUCTION OF BOOKS, ACCOUNTS, PAPERS AND OTHER EVIDENCE RELATIVE TO
 ANY MATTER WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE OFFICE;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10501-02-5
 A. 6599--A                          2
              

 
   (C) PUBLISHING PUBLIC ANNUAL  REPORTS  THAT  INCLUDE  INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL
 DATA  DETAILING  INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL DEATHS BY YEAR, CAUSE OF DEATH,
 MANNER OF DEATH, AGE, RACE/ETHNICITY, AND SEX;
   (D)  PUBLISHING  PUBLIC PRELIMINARY DEATH REPORTS FOR ALL INCARCERATED
 INDIVIDUALS DETAILING DATE, TIME, PRELIMINARY CAUSE OF DEATH, AND MANNER
 WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE DEATH OF SUCH INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL; AND
   (E) DELIVERING COPIES OF ALL REPORTS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
 DIRECTLY TO THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT  ATTORNEY,  ATTORNEY  GENERAL,  THE
 COMMISSIONER, AND THE LEGISLATURE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.