Bill Text: CA AB1351 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Coroners and medical examiners: reporting drug overdose deaths.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1351 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB1351-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1351
| Introduced by Assembly Member Haney |
February 16, 2023 |
An act to add Section 27491.48 to the Government Code, relating to coroners.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1351, as introduced, Haney.
Coroners and medical examiners: reporting drug overdose deaths.
Existing law requires the coroner to inquire into and determine the manner, circumstances, and cause of all violent, sudden, or unusual deaths. Existing law authorizes a county board of supervisors, by ordinance, to abolish the office of coroner and provide instead for the office of medical examiner, to be appointed by the board and to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the coroner.
This bill would require the county coroner or medical examiner to report, in writing on the 15th day of January, April, July, and October, to the State Department of Public Health deaths in the preceding 3-month period that involved, or were caused by, an overdose of a drug or drugs. The bill would require the written report to include the primary substance or substances that caused, or were involved in, each death, as well as the presence, if any, of
methamphetamine, opioids, cocaine, or benzodiazepines.
By imposing new requirements on county coroners and medical examiners, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 27491.48 is added to the Government Code, to read:27491.48.
(a) In addition to other reporting requirements, on the 15th day of January, April, July, and October each year, the coroner or medical examiner shall report in writing to the State Department of Public Heath the death of any person that occurred during the preceding three-month period involving, or caused by, an overdose of a drug or drugs.(b) The written report shall indicate the primary substance or substances that caused or were involved in each death, as well as the presence, if any, of methamphetamine, opioids, cocaine, or benzodiazepines.
