Richard Bloom
- Democratic
Author
Existing law makes it the duty of a coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of deaths under prescribed conditions, including deaths under such circumstances as to afford a reasonable ground to suspect that the death was caused by the criminal act of another. Existing law provides for the execution of a certificate of religious belief stating that postmortem anatomical dissection or specified procedures would violate the religious convictions of the person, and, except as specified, prohibits a coroner from performing the procedure. Existing law requires a postmortem examination or autopsy to include certain procedures, including, among others, taking available fingerprints and palm prints and a dental examination including dental charts and dental X-rays, as specified. Existing law authorizes the postmortem examination or autopsy of the unidentified body or remains to include full body X-rays. This bill, except as specified, would authorize a coroner, medical examiner, or other agency required to perform an autopsy in a death under those prescribed conditions to use an electronic image system, including, but not limited to, an X-ray computed tomography scanning system, to fulfill specified postmortem examination or autopsy requirements. The bill would prohibit a coroner, medical examiner, or other agency performing an autopsy in a death under those prescribed conditions from using an electronic image system to conduct the autopsy in any investigation where the circumstances surrounding the death afford a reasonable basis to suspect that the death was caused by or related to the criminal act of another and it is necessary to collect evidence for presentation in a court of law. The bill would require a dissection autopsy to be performed to determine the cause and manner of death if the results of an autopsy performed using electronic imaging provides the basis to suspect that the death was caused by or related to the criminal act of another and it is necessary to collect evidence for presentation in a court of law. The bill would allow an autopsy to be conducted using an X-ray computed tomography scanning system without regard to the existence of a properly-executed certificate of religious belief.
Approved by the Governor.
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 136, Statutes of 2016.
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2:30 p.m.
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 5639.).
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after July 29 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 4644.).
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 14).
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 4464.)
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 5).
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Read first time.
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
Introduced. To print.
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| AB2457 | HTML |
| 02/19/16 - Introduced | |
| 04/18/16 - Amended Assembly | |
| 05/16/16 - Amended Senate | |
| 08/02/16 - Enrolled | |
| 08/17/16 - Chaptered |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| No related documents. |
Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the California State Legislature.
If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.