SB139: Bill Text

SB139, s. 8 Section 8. 979.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 979.01 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB139,14,22 979.01 (1) (intro.) All physicians, authorities of hospitals, sanatoriums, public and private institutions, convalescent homes, authorities of any institution of a like nature, and other persons having knowledge of the death of any person who has died under any of the following circumstances, shall immediately report the death to the sheriff, police chief, medical examiner or coroner of the county where the death took place.:

Note: This Section, together with Sections 9 and 10, clarify that a death under any of the following circumstances must be reported:

"(a) All deaths in which there are unexplained, unusual, or suspicious circumstances.

(b) All homicides.

(c) All suicides.

(d) All deaths following an abortion.

(e) All deaths due to poisoning, whether homicidal, suicidal, or accidental.

(f) All deaths following accidents, whether the injury is or is not the primary cause of death.

(g) When there was no physician, or accredited practitioner of a bona fide religious denomination relying upon prayer or spiritual means for healing in attendance within 30 days preceding death.

(h) When a physician refuses to sign the death certificate.

(i) When, after reasonable efforts, a physician cannot be obtained to sign the medical certification as required under s. 69.18 (2) (b) or (c) within six days after the pronouncement of death or sooner under circumstances which the coroner or medical examiner determines to be an emergency.".

SB139, s. 9 Section 9 . 979.01 (1g) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 979.01 (1g) and amended to read:

SB139,15,8 979.01 (1g) A sheriff or police chief shall, immediately upon notification of a death reported under sub. (1), notify the coroner or the medical examiner and the coroner or medical examiner of the county where death took place , if. If the crime, injury or event occurred in another county, the coroner or medical examiner shall immediately report all of the following the death to the coroner or medical examiner of that county:.

SB139, s. 10 Section 10 . 979.01 (1g) (a) to (i) of the statutes are renumbered 979.01 (1) (a) to (i).

SB139, s. 11 Section 11. 979.01 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB139,15,13 979.01 (1m) The coroner or medical examiner receiving notification under sub. (1) or (1g) shall immediately notify the district attorney.

Note: Clarifies that, for a death reportable under s. 979.01 (1), stats., a coroner or medical examiner must immediately notify the district attorney regardless of whether the coroner or medical examiner received notice about the death under either s. 979.01 (1) or (1g), stats.

SB139, s. 12 Section 12 . 979.01 (1n) of the statutes is created to read:

SB139,16,4 979.01 (1n) If the coroner or medical examiner determines that a death reported under sub. (1) was a therapeutic-related death, as defined in s. 69.18 (2) (g) 1., the coroner or medical examiner shall indicate this determination on the death certificate of the person whose death was reported.

Note: Requires a coroner or medical examiner who determines that a death reported under s. 979.01 (1), stats., was a therapeutic-related death to indicate that determination on the death certificate. See Section 2 of the bill for the definition of "therapeutic-related death".

SB139, s. 13 Section 13. 979.01 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:

SB139,16,8 979.01 (1p) The coroner or medical examiner making a determination under sub. (1n) that a death was a therapeutic-related death shall report this information to the department of regulation and licensing.

Note: Requires a coroner or medical examiner who determines that a death reported under s. 979.01 (1), stats., was a therapeutic-related death to report that information to DORL.

SB139, s. 14 Section 14. 979.01 (1r) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB139,16,13 979.01 (1r) If the coroner or medical examiner is notified of a death under sub. (1) or (1g) and determines that his or her notification of the death was not required under sub. (1) or (1g), he or she shall notify the director of the historical society under s. 157.70 (3).

Note: Clarifies that notification of the director of the historical society is required regardless of whether the coroner or medical examiner received notice about the death under either s. 979.01 (1) or (1g), stats.

SB139, s. 15 Section 15 . Nonstatutory provisions; report to legislature.

SB139,17,3 (1) Report on time guidelines. No later than May 1, 2003, the department of regulation and licensing shall submit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, as determined by the speaker of the assembly or the president of the senate, in the manner provided under section 13.172 (3) of the statutes, a report on the disciplinary process timelines that were implemented by the department as guidelines in February 1999. The report shall address compliance with and enforcement of the guidelines and the effect of the guidelines on the fairness and efficiency of the disciplinary process.

Note: Based on recommendations of its ad hoc enforcement advisory committee, DORL in February of 1999 adopted as department policy specific time lines for processing disciplinary cases once a complaint is received by DORL division of enforcement. The special committee on discipline of health care professionals was supportive of the implementation of the guidelines and concluded it will be useful for the legislature to be apprised of the experience with the guidelines.

SB139, s. 16 Section 16. Nonstatutory provisions; medical examining board.

SB139,17,9 (1) Initial appointment of additional public members. Notwithstanding the length of term specified in section 15.405 (7) (b) (intro.) of the statutes, the 2 additional public members of the medical examining board shall be initially appointed for the following terms by the first day of the 4th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection:

SB139,17,10 (a) One public member, for a term expiring on July 1, 2003.

SB139,17,11 (b) One public member, for a term expiring on July 1, 2004.

Note: Provides that the 2 new public members, who are appointed to the board for staggered 4-year terms, will have initial terms that expire on July 1, 2003 and July 1, 2004.

SB139, s. 17 Section 17. Initial applicability.

SB139,17,15 (1) The treatment of section 440.037 (4) of the statutes first applies to cases of possible unprofessional conduct that are screened on the effective date of this subsection.

SB139,17,17 (2) The treatment of section 440.037 (5) of the statutes first applies to formal complaints that are filed on the effective date of this subsection.

SB139,17,20 (3) The treatment of sections 440.037 (6) and 448.02 (3) (c) and (d) of the statutes first applies to cases of unprofessional conduct for which a formal complaint is filed on the effective date of this subsection.

SB139, s. 18 Section 18. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

SB139,18,5 (1) The treatment of sections 69.18 (2) (g) and 979.01 (1), (1g) (intro.) and (a) to (i), (1m), (1n), (1p), and (1r) of the statutes takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.

SB139,18,6 (End)