Title IX, Counties, Cities, and Other Local Units
58 chapters · 2,528 sections in this title.
KRS § 72.010 Oath and bond of coroner -- Minimum -- Record -- Payment of bond premiums from county funds -- Appointment of deputy coroners
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premiums from county funds -- Appointment of deputy coroners. Every coroner shall execute bond in the minimum amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) with sureties approved by the fiscal court. The bond shall be recorded by the fiscal court in the office of the county clerk. The…
KRS § 72.020 Duty of person, hospital, or institution finding or possessing dead body -- Duties of coroner, law enforcement officer, embalmer, funeral director, or ambulance service
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Duties of coroner, law enforcement officer, embalmer, funeral director, or ambulance service. (1) Any person, hospital, or institution, finding or having possession of the body of any person whose death occurred under any of the circumstances defined in subsections (1) through (1…
KRS § 72.021 Care of remains of first responder, coroner, or deputy coroner killed in the line of duty
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line of duty. (1) The coroner shall ensure that the remains of a police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel, as defined in KRS 61.315, or a coroner or deputy coroner, killed in the line of duty are returned to the care and custody of that person's family…
KRS § 72.022 Outgoing coroner to transfer office records
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(1) An outgoing coroner shall turn over all of his or her records relating to the office of coroner to the clerk of the fiscal court within ten (10) days of the end of his or her term or the date of removal or vacancy. The clerk of the fiscal court shall deliver these records to …
KRS § 72.025 Circumstances requiring post-mortem examination to be performed by coroner
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coroner. Coroners shall require a post-mortem examination to be performed in the following circumstances: (1) When the death of a human being appears to be caused by homicide or violence; (2) When the death of a human being appears to be the result of suicide; (3) When the death …
KRS § 72.026 Testing for presence of controlled substances in post-mortem examination -- When required -- Reporting of drug overdose -- Administrative regulations
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When required -- Reporting of drug overdose -- Administrative regulations. (1) In cases requiring a post-mortem examination under KRS 72.025, the coroner or medical examiner shall take a biological sample and have it tested for the presence of any controlled substances which were…
KRS § 72.027 Inquiry regarding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy in post-mortem examination -- When required -- Reporting
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examination -- When required -- Reporting. (1) For the purposes of this section, "SUDEP" means sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. (2) (a) All autopsies conducted in this state as required by KRS 72.025 shall include, if requested by an immediate family member of the deceased to…
KRS § 72.029 Monthly report by coroner on child fatalities
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Every coroner or other official performing a coroner's functions shall, on or before the tenth day of each month, report to the Department for Public Health the death of any child under the age of eighteen (18) years occurring within the county during the preceding month, and the…
KRS § 72.031 Prohibited uses of autopsy photographs, other visual images, and video and audio recordings
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audio recordings. (1) No autopsy photograph, other visual image in whatever form, video recording, or audio recording shall be open to the public unless the spouse or personal representative of the decedent provides an express waiver to the state medical examiner, coroner, or oth…
KRS § 72.032 Short title for KRS 72.031 and 72.992(4)
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KRS 72.031 and 72.992(4) may be cited as Jack's Law. Effective:June 29, 2017
KRS § 72.045 Liability of office -- Deputies
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The office of coroner, rather than the individual holder of the office, shall be liable for the acts or omissions of deputy coroners. When a deputy coroner omits to act or acts in such a way as to render the coroner responsible, and the coroner discharges such responsibility, the…
KRS § 72.210 Purpose of Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner
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In enacting legislation establishing an Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, it is not the intention of the General Assembly to abolish or interfere with the coroner in his role as a constitutionally elected peace officer. It is the inte…
KRS § 72.220 Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to provide medical assistance to coroner investigating deaths
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investigating deaths. The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet shall, within budgetary limitation, provide medical assistance to coroners in investigating deaths; provide or contract for laboratory facilities for performing autopsies and investigations pursuant to KRS 72.210 to 72.2…
KRS § 72.222 Genetic testing when cause of death undetermined
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(1) Except in skeletal and decomposing human remains, in the case of a deceased person under forty (40) years of age where a post-mortem examination is performed by the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner under the authority of the county coroner and the state medical e…
KRS § 72.225 Advisory commission for medical examination
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An advisory commission is hereby established to act in a general advisory capacity to the medical examiner services. The commissioner of the Department of Kentucky State Police, the commissioner of criminal justice training, the secretary of justice and public safety, and the sec…
KRS § 72.235 Justice and Public Safety Cabinet may provide facilities and professional personnel for studies and examinations
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personnel for studies and examinations. The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet may establish or contract for physical facilities for the conduct of post-mortem and other necessary examinations. The cabinet may employ, by contract or otherwise, pathologists, toxicologists and other…
KRS § 72.240 Justice and Public Safety Cabinet may employ state chief medical examiner and associate -- Employment of county and district medical examiners
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and associate -- Employment of county and district medical examiners. (1) The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet may employ a board-certified forensic pathologist as the chief medical examiner who shall administer the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner and one (1) assoc…
KRS § 72.245 County or district examiner to assist coroner
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At the request of the coroner the county or district medical examiner shall assist in the investigation of deaths.
KRS § 72.255 Administrative regulations
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The secretary of justice and public safety shall adopt administrative regulations to carry out the provisions of KRS Chapter 72, including but not limited to the adoption of forms, fees for examinations, certification requirements, reports of medical examiners and certified coron…
KRS § 72.260 Charge for copies
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The secretary of justice and public safety is authorized to establish a schedule of fees for issuing duplicate records of investigations, examinations, autopsies, and other records; provided, however, that one (1) copy shall be provided free of charge to the coroner and either th…
KRS § 72.265 Coroner may act as county or district medical examiner
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Where a duly elected coroner is a physician licensed to practice medicine in Kentucky, he may be authorized by the department to perform the duties of a county or district medical examiner and may be compensated by the department therefor.
KRS § 72.270 Trust and agency fund for fees
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Fees collected pursuant to KRS 72.210 to 72.275 shall be deposited in the State Treasury and credited to a trust and agency fund to help defray the cost of carrying out the provisions of KRS 72.210 to 72.275.
KRS § 72.275 Persons enforcing law immune from liability
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Anyone participating in good faith pursuant to KRS 72.210 to 72.275 or the administrative regulations of the secretary of justice and public safety shall have immunity from any civil liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed.
KRS § 72.280 Annual report to Justice and Public Safety Cabinet on drug-related deaths
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The Office of Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the Division of Kentucky State Medical Examiners Office and its laboratory services, shall prepare and publish on its Web site an annual public report to the secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet which includes: …
KRS § 72.400 Legislative intent
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In enacting legislation relating to coroners, the General Assembly recognizes that the coroner is an elected constitutional peace officer. The General Assembly also recognizes that the ascertainment of the cause and manner of death in cases in which the coroner has jurisdiction i…
KRS § 72.405 Definitions for chapter
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As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Certified coroner" or "certified deputy coroner" means a coroner or deputy coroner who has been certified by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to have successfully completed both the basic training …
KRS § 72.410 Investigation of deaths defined as a coroner's case
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(1) The coroner of each county shall investigate the cause and manner of all deaths that are defined by KRS 72.405 as a coroner's case. (2) The coroner may, in his sound discretion, when investigating a coroner's case, request the assistance of the district medical examiner and t…
KRS § 72.415 Power and authority of coroners and deputy coroners-- Training course for deputy coroners -- Effects of failure to complete required training
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deputy coroners -- Effects of failure to complete required training. (1) For the purpose of enforcing KRS 72.410 to 72.470, coroners and deputy coroners have the full power and authority of peace officers in this state, including the power of arrest and the authority to bear arms…
KRS § 72.420 Coroner's inquest -- Subpoenas -- Stenographic services -- Verdict
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(1) A coroner may, in his sound discretion, order an inquest in any coroner's case. The inquest shall be conducted by a coroner's jury consisting of six (6) reputable citizens of the county selected and sworn by the coroner. The coroner may issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tec…
KRS § 72.425 Consent to autopsy when death not a coroner's case
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In the event the death of a person is not a coroner's case, consent to an autopsy shall be obtained from the decedent, by written consent, signed and acknowledged prior to his death; or his or her spouse; or in the absence of a spouse, the next of kin of the decedent; or in the a…
KRS § 72.430 Pathologist, toxicologist, chemist -- Immunity from civil liability
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No pathologist, toxicologist, chemist, or other authorized person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the coroner to order an autopsy to be performed. Any authorized pathologist, toxicologist, chemist, or other authorized person who participates in an autopsy or po…
KRS § 72.435 Cost of transporting or exhuming a body
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In the event it is necessary for the coroner to order a body to be transported or exhumed, payment shall be made by the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban- county government, whichever is appropriate, upon certification by the coroner that the services were ren…
KRS § 72.440 Circumstances under which coroner may order body exhumed
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A coroner may, upon receipt of an affidavit from any person stating that he believes or has reasonable grounds to believe that a person who is dead and buried died from poisoning or other illegal cause, order the body exhumed and a post-mortem examination or autopsy conducted.
KRS § 72.445 County or Commonwealth's attorney may petition court to order autopsy
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In the event a coroner declines to order an autopsy or body exhumed for an autopsy, the county or Commonwealth's attorney may petition the District or Circuit Court having jurisdiction to order an autopsy. In granting or denying such request, the court shall determine whether or …
KRS § 72.450 Disposal of body and valuables found thereon
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(1) (a) A coroner who has possession of a dead body or a part thereof shall make a bona fide attempt of at least thirty (30) days to notify the spouse, if any, or next of kin of the decedent's death. In the event the coroner is unable to locate the spouse, if any, or next of kin,…
KRS § 72.455 Expense of search for body
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The fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban-county government, whichever is appropriate, shall pay the expense of conducting a search for a body where such search has been ordered by the coroner.
KRS § 72.460 Cost of autopsies
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The cost of autopsies shall be paid for by the fiscal court; provided, however, that the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner, may contract with pathologists and toxicologists and chemists and pay for such autopsies within the budgetary…
KRS § 72.465 Inquiry into death under natural circumstances -- Death certificate -- Change in original certificate
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Change in original certificate. (1) The coroner shall in his sound discretion determine the extent of inquiry to be made into any death occurring under natural circumstances and falling within the provisions of KRS 72.410 to 72.470, and if inquiry reveals that the physician or ad…
KRS § 72.470 Coroner or deputy coroner -- Immunity from civil liability
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Any coroner, deputy coroner or designee thereof, acting in good faith within the scope of his official duties, shall have immunity from any civil liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed.
KRS § 72.475 Short title
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KRS 72.400 to 72.470 may be cited as "The Kentucky Coroner's Act of 1978."
KRS § 72.480 Death notification requirements -- Emergency medical assistance
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(1) A coroner shall follow the requirements of subsection (3) of this section relating to notification of a spouse, if any, or next of kin, when the coroner has reason to believe that the spouse, if any, or next of kin has not yet been notified of the decedent’s death, and: (a) A…
KRS § 72.992 Penalties
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(1) Any person who violates KRS 72.020(1) or who interferes with the coroner in the lawful performance of his duties shall be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), or be confined in jail for not more than ninety (90) days, or both. (2) Any coroner or deputy corone…