BILL NUMBER:  SB 1644
  VETOED	DATE: 09/24/2004




To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 1644 without my signature.

I support the work of county elder death review teams that are
designed to assist in identifying and reviewing suspicious elder
deaths.  These multidisciplinary teams bring together experts from
many departments including law enforcement, health care, adult
protective services and the coroners office.

In addition to this effort, county coroners are required to examine
all cases where an unnatural death is suspected or where a physician
has not been in attendance within the past 20 days.  Current law also
requires the majority of health care providers to be mandatory
reporters of elder abuse or neglect.  There is no evidence that the
information currently provided to the elder death review teams is
inadequate to assist in identifying and reviewing suspicious elder
deaths.

I appreciate the authors commitment to reducing elder abuse and
neglect and I share her concern that each suspicious death be fully
investigated.  However, the access to electronic death certification
information will not enhance the deliberative process these teams
employ.

For these reasons I am returning this bill without my signature.

Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger