The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB712-SSA1,1 1Section 1. 15.405 (18) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,5,52 15.405 (18) Medicolegal investigation examining board. There is created a
3medicolegal investigation examining board in the department of safety and
4professional services that shall consist of the following members appointed for
56-year terms:
SB712-SSA1,5,76 (a) Two individuals, each of whom is a coroner, chief deputy coroner, or deputy
7coroner.
SB712-SSA1,6,28 (am) Two individuals, each of whom is a nonaccredited medical examiner, as
9defined in s. 465.01 (4), or a medicolegal investigation staff member, as defined in s.

1465.01 (3), other than a medicolegal investigation staff member included under par.
2(a).
SB712-SSA1,6,43 (b) Two individuals, each of whom is an accredited medical examiner, as defined
4in s. 465.01 (1g).
SB712-SSA1,6,55 (c) One member of the Wisconsin District Attorneys' Association.
SB712-SSA1,6,66 (d) One member of the Badger State Sheriffs Association.
SB712-SSA1,6,77 (e) One member of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.
SB712-SSA1,6,88 (g) The attorney general or his or her designee.
SB712-SSA1,6,99 (i) One public member.
SB712-SSA1,2 10Section 2. 20.165 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,6,1911 20.165 (1) (g) General program operations. The amounts in the schedule for
12the licensing, rule making, and regulatory functions of the department, other than
13the licensing, rule-making, and credentialing functions of the medical examining
14board and the affiliated credentialing boards attached to the medical examining
15board and except for preparing, administering, and grading examinations. Ninety
16percent of all moneys received under chs. 440 to 480, except ch. chs. 448 and 465 and
17ss. 440.03 (13), and 440.05 (1) (b), and, less $10 of each renewal fee received under
18s. 452.12 (5); all moneys transferred from the appropriation under par. (i); and all
19moneys received under s. 440.055 (2), shall be credited to this appropriation.
SB712-SSA1,3 20Section 3. 20.165 (1) (hr) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,6,2421 20.165 (1) (hr) Medicolegal investigation examining board; program revenues.
22All moneys received from fees imposed for licenses issued under s. 465.10 to provide
23training and education to individuals licensed under s. 465.10 and to support the
24medicolegal investigation examining board in performing its duties and functions.
SB712-SSA1,4 25Section 4. 51.30 (4) (b) 29. of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,7,10
151.30 (4) (b) 29. Following the death of a patient, to a coroner, deputy coroner,
2medical examiner or medical examiner's assistant, for the purpose of completing a
3medical certificate under s. 69.18 (2) or investigating a death under s. 979.01 or
4979.10. The health care provider may release information by initiating contact with
5the office of the coroner or medical examiner without receiving a request for release
6of the information and shall release information upon receipt of an oral or written
7request for the information from the coroner, deputy coroner, medical examiner or
8medical examiner's assistant. The recipient of any information under this
9subdivision shall keep the information confidential except as necessary to comply
10with s. 69.18, 979.01 or 979.10.
SB712-SSA1,5 11Section 5. 69.01 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,7,1612 69.01 (12) "Final disposition" means the disposition of a corpse or stillbirth by
13burial, interment, entombment, cremation, delivery to a university or school under
14s. 157.02 (3) (1m) (c), or delivery to a medical or dental school anatomy department
15under s. 157.06. "Final disposition" does not include disposition of the ashes
16produced by cremation of a corpse or stillbirth.
SB712-SSA1,6 17Section 6. 69.18 (2) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,8,218 69.18 (2) (d) 1. Except as provided under par. (e), if a the manner of death is
19not natural and
is the subject of a coroner's or medical examiner's determination
20investigated by a coroner or medical examiner under s. 979.01 or 979.03, the coroner
21or medical examiner or a physician supervised by a coroner or medical examiner in
22the county where the event which caused the death occurred shall complete and sign
23the medical certification for the death and mail the death certificate within 5 days
24after the pronouncement of death or present the certificate to the person responsible

1for filing the death certificate under sub. (1)
within 6 days after the pronouncement
2of death.
SB712-SSA1,7 3Section 7. 69.18 (2) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,8,104 69.18 (2) (d) 2. Except as provided under par. (e), if the decedent was not under
5the care of a physician for the illness or condition from which the person died, the
6coroner or medical examiner, or a physician supervised by a coroner or medical
7examiner, in the county of the place of death shall complete and sign the medical
8certification for the death and mail the death certificate within 5 days after the
9pronouncement of death or present the certificate to the person responsible for filing
10the death certificate under sub. (1)
within 6 days after the pronouncement of death.
SB712-SSA1,8 11Section 8. 69.18 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,8,1812 69.18 (2) (d) 3. For a medical certification under this paragraph, except a
13medical certification of the cause of death of an indigent, a coroner or medical
14examiner may charge a fee established by the county board, not to exceed an amount
15reasonably related to the actual and necessary cost of providing the medical
16certification. The coroner or medical examiner, or the physician employed by the
17coroner or medical examiner, shall mail or present complete and sign a medical
18certification as required under subd. 1., whether or not the fee has been paid.
SB712-SSA1,9 19Section 9. 69.18 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,9,420 69.18 (3) (a) Except as provided under par. (c) or (e), the person who has moved
21a corpse under sub. (1) (a) shall complete a report for final disposition, on a form
22supplied by the state registrar, and, within 24 hours after being notified of the death,
23mail or present a copy of the report to the coroner or medical examiner in the county
24of the place of death and mail or present a copy to the local registrar in the
25registration district of the place of death. If the cause of death is subject to an

1investigation
must be reported to a coroner or medical examiner under s. 979.01 or
2if the death is subject to investigation under s. 979.03, the report for final disposition
3shall be submitted to the coroner or medical examiner in the county in which the
4event which caused the death occurred.
SB712-SSA1,10 5Section 10. 69.18 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,9,106 69.18 (3) (b) If a medical certification for a corpse is required under sub. (2) (d),
7no person may embalm the corpse or effect its final disposition without satisfying the
8requirements for a report under par. (a) and without obtaining the written
9permission of the person required to complete the medical certification under sub.
10(2) (d) or an authorization to embalm a body under s. 979.105.
SB712-SSA1,11 11Section 11. 69.18 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,9,1912 69.18 (3) (d) No person may remove a corpse from this state if the place of death
13was in this state unless the corpse is accompanied by a copy of the report for final
14disposition. If a medical certification is required for the corpse under sub. (2) (d), the
15corpse must be accompanied by the report and the written permission of the coroner
16or medical examiner to embalm and effect final disposition or an authorization to
17embalm a body under s. 979.105
. No person may remove a stillbirth from this state
18if the delivery of the stillbirth was in this state unless the stillbirth is accompanied
19by a report for final disposition.
SB712-SSA1,12 20Section 12. 69.18 (4) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 69.18 (4) (c) and
21amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,9,2522 69.18 (4) (c) Subject to s. 157.111, the coroner or medical examiner of the county
23in which a decedent's corpse is interred shall issue an authorization a permit for
24disinterment and reinterment upon receipt of an order of a court of competent
25jurisdiction or upon receipt of a written application for disinterment and reinterment

1signed by the person in charge of the disinterment and by any of the following
2persons, in order of priority stated, when persons in prior classes are not available
3at the time of application, and in the absence of actual notice of contrary indications
4by the decedent or actual notice of opposition by a member of the same or a prior
5class:
.
SB712-SSA1,13 6Section 13. 69.18 (4) (a) 1g. to 6. of the statutes are renumbered 69.18 (4) (am)
71g. to 6.
SB712-SSA1,14 8Section 14. 69.18 (4) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,10,119 69.18 (4) (am) (intro.) In this subsection, "representative of the decedent"
10means any member of the following classes of individuals, in the order of priority
11listed:
SB712-SSA1,15 12Section 15. 69.18 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,10,1513 69.18 (4) (b) Except as provided in s. 157.112 (3), no person may disinter a
14human corpse from a grave or tomb without first obtaining a disinterment permit
15under par. (c) or (d).
SB712-SSA1,16 16Section 16. 69.18 (4) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.
SB712-SSA1,17 17Section 17. 69.18 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,10,2218 69.18 (4) (d) Subject to s. 157.111, the coroner or medical examiner of the county
19in which a decedent's corpse is interred shall issue a disinterment permit upon
20receipt of a written application for disinterment that is made and signed by a
21representative of the decedent and signed by the person in charge of disinterment
22if all of the following apply:
SB712-SSA1,10,2423 1. No representative of the decedent who is a member of a prior class under par.
24(am) is available at the time the application is made.
SB712-SSA1,11,2
12. The coroner or medical examiner does not have actual notice that the
2decedent would have opposed the disinterment.
SB712-SSA1,11,53 3. The coroner or medical examiner does not have actual notice of opposition
4to disinterment by a representative of the decedent who is a member of the same or
5a prior class under par. (am) as the applicant.
SB712-SSA1,11,76 4. The applicant provides proof of intent to cremate the decedent's corpse or to
7lawfully inter the decedent's corpse in a specified burial place.
SB712-SSA1,18 8Section 18. 69.18 (4) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,11,109 69.18 (4) (e) No person may cremate a corpse disinterred under this subsection
10without obtaining a cremation permit under s. 979.10 (1) (ag).
SB712-SSA1,19 11Section 19. 69.18 (4) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,11,1412 69.18 (4) (f) Except as provided in s. 157.112 (3), no person may disinter a
13decedent's cremated remains from a cemetery unless all of the following conditions
14are satisfied:
SB712-SSA1,11,1515 1. The cemetery authority, or its designee, consents to disinterment.
SB712-SSA1,11,1816 2. A representative of the decedent consents to disinterment and no other
17representative of the decedent who is a member of the same or a prior class under
18par. (am) objects to disinterment.
SB712-SSA1,20 19Section 20. 69.20 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,11,2220 69.20 (2) (a) 2. For a certificate of death, any of the persons specified under s.
2169.18 (4) (a) (am) 1g. to 6. or an individual who is authorized in writing by one of the
22persons.
SB712-SSA1,21 23Section 21. 157.02 (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the statutes are renumbered
24157.02 (1m) (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), and 157.02 (1m) (b) and (e), as renumbered, are
25amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,12,5
1157.02 (1m) (b) Time allowed relative to act. If a relative or friend fails to
2arrange for taking charge of the corpse within a reasonable time after death, the
3superintendent or other officer may proceed as provided in this section subsection,
4but relatives or friends may claim the corpse at any time before it has been delivered
5pursuant to sub. (3) par. (c).
SB712-SSA1,12,76 (e) Other disposition. If the corpse is not disposed of under subs. (1) to (4) pars.
7(a) to (d)
, the superintendent or public officer shall properly bury it.
SB712-SSA1,22 8Section 22. 157.02 (1m) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,12,99 157.02 (1m) (title) Disposition of inmate's remains.
SB712-SSA1,23 10Section 23. 157.02 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,12,1811 157.02 (2m) Disposition of other unclaimed remains. (a) If a person, other
12than a person who has responsibility to dispose of a corpse under sub. (1m), has the
13corpse of a deceased individual and cannot by exercise of reasonable effort locate a
14representative of the decedent, as defined in s. 69.18 (4) (am), or a representative of
15the decedent refuses to claim the corpse for disposition, the person may notify the
16coroner or medical examiner in the county of residence of the deceased, and the
17coroner or medical examiner shall take custody of the corpse and cause the corpse
18to be decently buried or cremated.
SB712-SSA1,12,2119 (b) A coroner or medical examiner is immune from civil liability for his or her
20choice of method for disposing of an unidentified corpse under this subsection if the
21coroner or medical examiner made reasonable efforts to identify the corpse.
SB712-SSA1,12,2522 (c) A coroner or medical examiner is immune from civil liability for his or her
23choice of method for disposing of an unclaimed corpse under this subsection if the
24coroner or medical examiner made reasonable efforts to notify a representative of the
25decedent, as defined in s. 69.18 (4) (am), of the disposal of the corpse.
SB712-SSA1,24
1Section 24. 157.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,13,62 157.03 (1) The corpse of a person who died with smallpox, diphtheria, or scarlet
3fever, or who in his or her last sickness shall request to be buried or cremated, and
4of a stranger or traveler who suddenly died, shall not be disposed of under s. 157.02
5(3) (1m) (c), and no person having charge of a corpse authorized to be so disposed of
6shall sell or deliver it to be used outside the state.
SB712-SSA1,25 7Section 25. 157.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,13,118 157.03 (2) Upon receipt of the corpse by a university or school pursuant to s.
9157.02 (3) (1m) (c) it shall be properly embalmed and retained for 3 months before
10being used or dismembered and shall be delivered to any relative claiming it upon
11satisfactory proof of relationship.
SB712-SSA1,26 12Section 26. 157.055 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,13,1713 157.055 (2) (intro.) Notwithstanding ss. 69.18 (4), 157.113, 445.04 (2), 445.14,
14979.01 (3), and (3m), and (4), 979.02, and 979.025 (2), 979.027, 979.10, and 979.105,
15and subch. VII of ch. 440, during a period of a state of emergency related to public
16health declared by the governor under s. 323.10, a public health authority may do
17all of the following:
SB712-SSA1,27 18Section 27. 157.112 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,13,2119 157.112 (3) (intro.) A cemetery authority may rebury human remains under
20sub. (2) without first obtaining an authorization complying with the conditions under
21s. 69.18 (4), but the cemetery authority shall do all of the following:
SB712-SSA1,28 22Section 28. 157.70 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,14,223 157.70 (3) (a) Except as provided under s. 979.01, a A person shall immediately
24notify the director if the person knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that a

1burial site or the cataloged land contiguous to a cataloged burial site is being
2disturbed or may be disturbed contrary to the requirements of subs. (4) and (5).
SB712-SSA1,29 3Section 29. 346.71 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,14,154 346.71 (1) Every coroner or medical examiner shall, on or before the 10th day
5of each month, report in writing any accident involving a motor vehicle occurring
6within the coroner's or medical examiner's jurisdiction resulting in the death of any
7person during the preceding calendar month. If the accident involved an all-terrain
8vehicle or utility terrain vehicle, the report shall be made to the department of
9natural resources and shall include the information specified by that department.
10If the accident involved any other motor vehicle, the report shall be made to the
11department and shall include the information specified by the department. The
12coroner or medical examiner of the county where the death occurs, if the accident
13occurred in another jurisdiction, shall, immediately upon learning of the death,
14report it to the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the accident
15occurred, as provided in s. 979.01 (1).
SB712-SSA1,30 16Section 30. 346.71 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,15,1517 346.71 (2) In cases of death involving a motor vehicle in which the decedent was
18the operator of a motor vehicle, a pedestrian 14 years of age or older or a bicycle or
19electric personal assistive mobility device operator 14 years of age or older and who
20died within 6 hours of the time of the accident, the coroner or medical examiner of
21the county where the death occurred shall require that a blood specimen of at least
2210 cc. be withdrawn from the body of the decedent within 12 hours after his or her
23death, by the coroner or medical examiner or by a physician so designated by the
24coroner or medical examiner or by a qualified person at the direction of the physician.
25All funeral directors shall obtain a release an authorization from the a coroner or

1medical examiner of the county where the accident occurred as provided in s. 979.01
2(4)
979.105 prior to proceeding with embalming any body coming under the scope of
3this section. The blood so drawn shall be forwarded to a laboratory approved by the
4department of health services for analysis of the alcoholic content of the blood
5specimen. The coroner or medical examiner causing the blood to be withdrawn shall
6be notified of the results of each analysis made and shall forward the results of each
7such analysis to the department of health services. If the death involved a motor
8vehicle, the department shall keep a record of all such examinations to be used for
9statistical purposes only and the department shall disseminate and make public the
10cumulative results of the examinations without identifying the individuals involved.
11If the death involved an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle, the department
12of natural resources shall keep a record of all such examinations to be used for
13statistical purposes only and the department of natural resources shall disseminate
14and make public the cumulative results of the examinations without identifying the
15individuals involved.
SB712-SSA1,31 16Section 31. 440.03 (9) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,15,2017 440.03 (9) (a) (intro.) Subject to pars. (b) and (c) and except as provided in par.
18(bm)
, the department shall, biennially, determine each fee for an initial credential
19for which no examination is required, for a reciprocal credential, and for a credential
20renewal by doing all of the following:
SB712-SSA1,32 21Section 32. 440.03 (9) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,15,2422 440.03 (9) (bm) The medicolegal investigation examining board may determine
23the amount of any fees imposed for licenses issued under s. 465.10, in accordance
24with s. 465.05 (2).
SB712-SSA1,33 25Section 33. 440.03 (13) (b) 38d. of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,16,1
1440.03 (13) (b) 38d. Medicolegal investigator.
SB712-SSA1,34 2Section 34. 440.05 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,16,5 3440.05 Standard fees. (intro.) The following standard fees apply to all initial
4credentials, except as provided in ss. 440.51, 444.03, 444.11, 446.02 (2) (c), 447.04 (2)
5(c) 2., 449.17 (1m) (d), and 449.18 (2) (d), and 465.05 (2):
SB712-SSA1,35 6Section 35. 440.08 (2) (a) 46t. of the statutes is created to read:
SB712-SSA1,16,87 440.08 (2) (a) 46t. Medicolegal investigation: January 1, 2019, and
8quadrennially thereafter.
SB712-SSA1,36 9Section 36. 440.78 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB712-SSA1,16,1010 440.78 (1) (b) A copy of the cremation permit issued under s. 979.10 (1) (a) (ag).
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