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Ada County coroner warns Senate Bill 1101 could strain forensic capacity; reports department is 'muddling through' staffing gaps
Summary
Coroner Rich Ripple told commissioners that a new legislative requirement for board‑certified forensic pathologists risks creating an unfunded mandate that could force Ada County to decline case acceptances if neighboring counties cannot find pathologists.
Ada County Coroner Rich Ripple told the Board of Commissioners that while he supported much of recent legislation affecting coroners, language in what he identified as Senate Bill 1101 may impose an unfunded mandate requiring coroners to use board‑certified forensic pathologists — a requirement Ripple said could exceed current available capacity and create regional strain.
"I don't think that the drafters of the language thought it all the way through," Ripple said, adding that although Ada County currently has a board‑certified pathologist, neighboring counties may not and…
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