BILL NUMBER: AB 2457	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bloom

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to amend Section 27521 of the Government Code, relating to
autopsy.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2457, as introduced, Bloom. Autopsy: electronic image systems.
   Existing law requires a coroner to perform or cause to be
performed an autopsy on a decedent, for which an autopsy has not
already been performed, on request of specified relatives. Existing
law requires a postmortem examination or autopsy that is conducted at
the discretion of a coroner, medical examiner, or other agency 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 would authorize the use of an electronic image system,
including, but not limited to, an X-ray computed tomography scanning
system, to fulfill the requirements of a discretionary postmortem
examination or autopsy or the requirements of a postmortem
examination or autopsy required by other law.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 27521 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   27521.  (a) A postmortem examination or autopsy conducted at the
discretion of a coroner, medical examiner, or other agency upon an
unidentified body or human remains is subject to this section.
   (b) A postmortem examination or autopsy shall include, but shall
not be limited to, the following procedures:
   (1) Taking of all available fingerprints and palm prints.
   (2) A dental examination consisting of dental charts and dental
X-rays of the deceased person's teeth, which may be conducted on the
body or human remains by a qualified dentist as determined by the
coroner.
   (3) The collection of tissue, including a hair sample, or body
fluid samples for future DNA testing, if necessary.
   (4) Frontal and lateral facial photographs with the scale
indicated.
   (5) Notation and photographs, with a scale, of significant scars,
marks, tattoos, clothing items, or other personal effects found with
or near the body.
   (6) Notations of observations pertinent to the estimation of the
time of death.
   (7) Precise documentation of the location of the remains.
   (c) The postmortem examination or autopsy of the unidentified body
or remains may include full body X-rays. 
   (d) An electronic image system, including, but not limited to, an
X-ray computed tomography scanning system, may be used to fulfill the
requirements of subdivision (b) or of a postmortem examination or
autopsy required by other law, including, but not limited to, Section
27520.  
   (d) 
    (e)  The coroner, medical examiner, or other agency
performing a postmortem examination or autopsy shall prepare a final
report of investigation in a format established by the Department of
Justice. The final report shall list or describe the information
collected pursuant to the postmortem examination or autopsy conducted
under subdivision (b). 
   (e) 
    (f)  The body of an unidentified deceased person
 may   shall  not be cremated or buried
until the jaws (maxilla and mandible with teeth), or other bone
sample if the jaws are not available, and other tissue samples are
retained for future possible use. Unless the coroner, medical
examiner, or other agency performing a postmortem examination or
autopsy has determined that the body of the unidentified deceased
person has suffered significant deterioration or decomposition, the
jaws shall not be removed until immediately before the body is
cremated or buried. The coroner, medical examiner, or other agency
responsible for a postmortem examination or autopsy shall retain the
jaws and other tissue samples for one year after a positive
identification is made, and no civil or criminal challenges are
pending, or indefinitely. 
   (f) 
    (g)  If the coroner, medical examiner, or other agency
performing a postmortem examination or autopsy with the aid of the
dental examination and any other identifying findings is unable to
establish the identity of the body or human remains, the coroner,
medical examiner, or other agency shall submit dental charts and
dental X-rays of the unidentified deceased person to the Department
of Justice on forms supplied by the Department of Justice within 45
days of the date the body or human remains were discovered. 
   (g) 
    (h)  If the coroner, medical examiner, or other agency
performing a postmortem examination or autopsy with the aid of the
dental examination and other identifying findings is unable to
establish the identity of the body or human remains, the coroner,
medical examiner, or other agency shall submit the final report of
investigation to the Department of Justice within 180 days of the
date the body or human remains were discovered. The final report of
investigation shall list or describe the information collected
pursuant to the postmortem examination or autopsy conducted under
subdivision (b), and any anthropology report, fingerprints,
photographs, and autopsy report.