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Panel considers bill to let law enforcement summon coroners from other counties instead of only adjacent counties
Summary
Representative Nels Christensen told the Human Services Committee House Bill 1246 would allow law enforcement to call coroners from counties other than the adjacent county when a local coroner is unavailable; the change was requested by the Association of Counties and proponents said it improves investigative flexibility.
Representative Nels Christensen (District 18) introduced House Bill 1246, which would change current statutory language to allow law enforcement to call upon a coroner from another county if a coroner does not reside in or is not available in the county where an investigation is needed. Christensen said the current North Dakota Century Code requires law enforcement to "call upon the nearest coroner from the adjacent county," language he described as older and less flexible.
Why it matters: proponents told the committee a broader ability to summon coroners improves access to expertise for death investigations and ensures investigations are completed "in a thorough and proper manner." Christensen said the bill came at the request of the Association of Counties.
Committee members asked whether the change was prompted by any particular event; Christensen said it was a request from the Association of Counties. No opposition testimony was recorded during the transcript. The committee closed the hearing on House Bill 1246.
