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 December 19, 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 initial 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) In addition to the training requirements of subdivision one of
this section, each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or
appointed pursuant to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend
and successfully complete a minimum of thirty credit hours in
state-approved continuing medical legal investigation courses every
three years. 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.
(b) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall be exempt from the
mandatory continuing education requirement for one year following the
successful completion of the state-approved courses in medical-legal
investigation required by subdivision one of this section.
(c)(i) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall:
(A) on a form and date prescribed by the county, register triennially
and attest to their respective county, and the department upon request,
that they have successfully completed a minimum of thirty credit hours
of continuing medical-legal investigation courses; and
(B) maintain records of compliance with such continuing education
requirements for seven years and shall provide such documentation of
compliance upon request by their respective county or the department of
health.
(ii) Coroner and coroner's deputy attestations shall be filed in the
office of the county clerk.
(d) A coroner or coroner's deputy who does not satisfy the mandatory
continuing education requirements shall be barred from practice until
they have met such requirements; provided, however, that their
respective county may temporarily waive such requirements for extended
active duty with the armed forces of the United States or state, or for
no longer than one year for other good cause, acceptable to the
respective county, which may prevent compliance.
* NB Effective December 19, 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 December 19, 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 initial 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) In addition to the training requirements of subdivision one of
this section, each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or
appointed pursuant to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend
and successfully complete a minimum of thirty credit hours in
state-approved continuing medical legal investigation courses every
three years. 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.
(b) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall be exempt from the
mandatory continuing education requirement for one year following the
successful completion of the state-approved courses in medical-legal
investigation required by subdivision one of this section.
(c)(i) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall:
(A) on a form and date prescribed by the county, register triennially
and attest to their respective county, and the department upon request,
that they have successfully completed a minimum of thirty credit hours
of continuing medical-legal investigation courses; and
(B) maintain records of compliance with such continuing education
requirements for seven years and shall provide such documentation of
compliance upon request by their respective county or the department of
health.
(ii) Coroner and coroner's deputy attestations shall be filed in the
office of the county clerk.
(d) A coroner or coroner's deputy who does not satisfy the mandatory
continuing education requirements shall be barred from practice until
they have met such requirements; provided, however, that their
respective county may temporarily waive such requirements for extended
active duty with the armed forces of the United States or state, or for
no longer than one year for other good cause, acceptable to the
respective county, which may prevent compliance.
* NB Effective December 19, 2026