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Committee moves coroner bill to floor after testimony; critics say it doesn't go far enough on privacy
Summary
Senate Bill 1101, which clarifies coroner roles and creates training expectations, was recommended to the Senate floor with a due pass. Coroners and county associations supported the bill as a first step; a public witness urged stronger confidentiality protections and penalties.
The committee voted to send Senate Bill 1101 to the Senate floor with a due pass. The bill clarifies coroner duties, defines roles for medical-legal death investigations, and establishes baseline training expectations, sponsors said, and was developed after a JLOC review of coroner practices.
"Our goal is ... to get everybody operating on the same sheet of music," Tory Danner, coroner for Bannock County and president of the Idaho Coroners Association, said in support. He told senators inconsistent death investigations across counties had prompted the association to draft uniform duties and definitions.
A public witness, Alan Hodges, testified he supported stronger protections than those contained in the bill, particularly confidentiality rules for coroner records and restrictions on photographs and possession of sensitive images. Hodges said his daughter died of epilepsy and described a situation in which he said deputies seized medication and crime-scene photographs without an avenue for parental control over sensitive images.
Danner responded that SB 1101 is a tiered approach and that additional legislation is being prepared to address issues Hodges raised. Senator Foreman moved to send the bill to the floor with a due pass; Senator Lent seconded and the motion carried by voice vote.
Sponsors and association representatives said they view the measure as an initial step and expect to return with additional proposals to address reporting, confidentiality and penalties.
