Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Coroner Training topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee advances bill requiring training for deputy coroners
Summary
Senate Bill 1‑93 would require minimum training for deputy coroners as part of phase two of Act 551 (02/2013); supporters said adding deputies to an existing statewide training program will improve death investigations.
Senator Ingram presented Senate Bill 1‑93 to require minimum training for deputy coroners. He said elected coroners are constitutional officers and cannot be required to take training, but deputy coroners currently have no statutory training requirement. The bill would extend phase‑two training requirements established under Act 551 of 02/2013 and the Arkansas Medical Legal Death Investigation Training Program to deputy coroners.
Kevin Clayhorn, president of the Arkansas State Coroners Association, and Jessica Fonnell, a law clerk for the Association of Counties, spoke in support, noting existing education funds and an established 40‑hour core training course (about 108 attendees have taken it, with 83 completing certification and 19 obtaining national licensure, according to proponents).
Committee members asked about the difficulty of the certification course; proponents said the course is rigorous but achievable. With no recorded opposition, the committee moved to pass the bill.
