Legislation
SECTION 679
Training requirements for coroners and coroner's deputies
County (CNT) CHAPTER 11, ARTICLE 17-A
* § 679. Training requirements for coroners and coroner's deputies.
Each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed pursuant
to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and successfully
complete state-approved courses in medical-legal investigation. The cost
of such courses shall be the responsibility of the coroner or coroner's
deputy, provided however that the county may, at its discretion,
reimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a portion of the
cost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed, certified and
accredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of health, in
consultation with the department of state, the division of criminal
justice services, the superintendent of state police, the commissioner
of education, and the chair of the commission on forensic science. The
department of health may also consult with qualified professional
groups. Such rules shall also establish the frequency and duration for
successful completion of any such courses by a coroner or coroner's
deputy and may prescribe heightened levels of training for any newly
elected or appointed coroner or coroner's deputy.
* NB Effective until June 17, 2026
* § 679. Training requirements for coroners and coroner's deputies. 1.
Each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed pursuant
to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and successfully
complete state-approved courses in medical-legal investigation. The cost
of such courses shall be the responsibility of the coroner or coroner's
deputy, provided however that the county may, at its discretion,
reimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a portion of the
cost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed, certified and
accredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of health, in
consultation with the department of state, the division of criminal
justice services, the superintendent of state police, the commissioner
of education, and the chair of the commission on forensic science. The
department of health may also consult with qualified professional
groups. Such rules shall also establish the frequency and duration for
successful completion of any such courses by the coroner or coroner's
deputy and may prescribe heightened levels of training for any newly
elected or appointed coroner or coroner's deputy.
2. (a) Each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed
pursuant to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and
successfully complete no less than thirty credits in state-approved
medical legal investigation courses over a three-year period. The cost
of such courses shall be the responsibility of the coroner or coroner's
deputy, provided however that the county may, at its discretion,
reimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a portion of the
cost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed, certified and
accredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of health, in
consultation with the department of state, the division of criminal
justice services, the superintendent of state police, the commissioner
of education, and the chair of the commission on forensic science. The
department of health may also consult with qualified professional groups
including but not limited to the New York state association of county
coroners and medical examiners. Each coroner and coroner's deputy shall
register triennially with the department of health to practice and shall
comply with the provisions of the mandatory continuing education
requirements prescribed in this subdivision.
(b) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall be exempt from the
mandatory continuing education requirement for one year following the
date on which they are first elected or appointed pursuant to section
four hundred of this chapter.
(c) A coroner or coroner's deputy who does not satisfy the mandatory
continuing education requirements, except as provided by paragraph (b)
of this subdivision, shall not practice until they have met such
requirements, and they have been issued a certificate of completion by
the department of health or other agency listed in paragraph (a) of this
subdivision. The New York state association of county coroners and
medical examiners shall retain records of compliance with the continuing
education requirements by all coroners and coroner's deputies and shall
notify those individuals and their respective counties if a coroner or
coroner's deputy is not in compliance with this subdivision.
(d) In accordance with the intent of this subdivision, adjustment to
the mandatory continuing education requirement may be granted by the
department of health for reasons of health if certified by an
appropriate health care professional, for extended active duty with the
armed forces of the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to
the department of health which may prevent compliance.
* NB Effective June 17, 2026
Each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed pursuant
to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and successfully
complete state-approved courses in medical-legal investigation. The cost
of such courses shall be the responsibility of the coroner or coroner's
deputy, provided however that the county may, at its discretion,
reimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a portion of the
cost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed, certified and
accredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of health, in
consultation with the department of state, the division of criminal
justice services, the superintendent of state police, the commissioner
of education, and the chair of the commission on forensic science. The
department of health may also consult with qualified professional
groups. Such rules shall also establish the frequency and duration for
successful completion of any such courses by a coroner or coroner's
deputy and may prescribe heightened levels of training for any newly
elected or appointed coroner or coroner's deputy.
* NB Effective until June 17, 2026
* § 679. Training requirements for coroners and coroner's deputies. 1.
Each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed pursuant
to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and successfully
complete state-approved courses in medical-legal investigation. The cost
of such courses shall be the responsibility of the coroner or coroner's
deputy, provided however that the county may, at its discretion,
reimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a portion of the
cost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed, certified and
accredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of health, in
consultation with the department of state, the division of criminal
justice services, the superintendent of state police, the commissioner
of education, and the chair of the commission on forensic science. The
department of health may also consult with qualified professional
groups. Such rules shall also establish the frequency and duration for
successful completion of any such courses by the coroner or coroner's
deputy and may prescribe heightened levels of training for any newly
elected or appointed coroner or coroner's deputy.
2. (a) Each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed
pursuant to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and
successfully complete no less than thirty credits in state-approved
medical legal investigation courses over a three-year period. The cost
of such courses shall be the responsibility of the coroner or coroner's
deputy, provided however that the county may, at its discretion,
reimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a portion of the
cost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed, certified and
accredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of health, in
consultation with the department of state, the division of criminal
justice services, the superintendent of state police, the commissioner
of education, and the chair of the commission on forensic science. The
department of health may also consult with qualified professional groups
including but not limited to the New York state association of county
coroners and medical examiners. Each coroner and coroner's deputy shall
register triennially with the department of health to practice and shall
comply with the provisions of the mandatory continuing education
requirements prescribed in this subdivision.
(b) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall be exempt from the
mandatory continuing education requirement for one year following the
date on which they are first elected or appointed pursuant to section
four hundred of this chapter.
(c) A coroner or coroner's deputy who does not satisfy the mandatory
continuing education requirements, except as provided by paragraph (b)
of this subdivision, shall not practice until they have met such
requirements, and they have been issued a certificate of completion by
the department of health or other agency listed in paragraph (a) of this
subdivision. The New York state association of county coroners and
medical examiners shall retain records of compliance with the continuing
education requirements by all coroners and coroner's deputies and shall
notify those individuals and their respective counties if a coroner or
coroner's deputy is not in compliance with this subdivision.
(d) In accordance with the intent of this subdivision, adjustment to
the mandatory continuing education requirement may be granted by the
department of health for reasons of health if certified by an
appropriate health care professional, for extended active duty with the
armed forces of the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to
the department of health which may prevent compliance.
* NB Effective June 17, 2026