"An Act relating to medical examiners and medical death examinations. "

Section 1 - Amends AS 12.65.015(a) by changing MAY to shall. This will require the commissioner of health and social services to not only appoint a state medical examiner but also a deputy medical examiner.

Section 2 - Amends AS 12.65.015(b) by adding the deputy medical examiner to the first line of the section. This also requires that both medical examiners must be physicians who have education and experience in forensic pathology.

Section 3 - Amends AS 12.65.015(c) by adding deputy medical examiner and requires that both examiners perform the duties assigned.

Section 4 - Amends AS 12.65.020(a) by adding the requirement that either the state medical examiner or the deputy medical examiner to perform death investigations when a death is reported to the state medical examiner's office. This section also adds deputy medical examiner to further responsibilities of the medical examiner's office.

Section 5 - Amends AS 12.65.020(b) by adding deputy medical examiner. By adding deputy medical examiner, it would require the state medical examiner and the deputy medical examiner to share the responsibility of preparing post examination reports and submitting those reports to the D.A.

Section 6 - Amends AS 12.65.020(c) again by adding deputy medical examiner to require that the state medical examiner and deputy medical examiner share the responsibility in court petitions and produce death certificates.

Section 7 - Amends 12.65.020(d) by adding deputy medical examiner to require that the state medical examiner and the deputy medical examiner share the responsibility in having a death certificate amended if in the opinion of the state medical examiner or the deputy medical examiner, the death certificate is inaccurate or incomplete.

Section 8 - Amends AS 12.65.020(e) by adding the state medical examiner or deputy medical examiner to lines 28 & 29 to allow both medical examiners to have the option of calling upon public employees to assist in medical examination duties.

Section 9 - Amends AS 12.65.020(f) by adding the deputy medical examiner to the list of those who are immune from civil liability based on determining the cause and manner of a person's death.

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