AB783, s. 61 24Section 61. 979.02 (2) to (7) of the statutes are created to read:
AB783,26,4
1979.02 (2) The coroner or medical examiner who has jurisdiction to investigate
2a death under s. 979.01, or his or her designee, shall order that an autopsy and any
3other appropriate diagnostic procedure be performed on the body of the deceased if
4the death occurred under any of the following circumstances:
AB783,26,65 (a) The death likely resulted from a criminal act, unless the district attorney
6or attorney general waives the requirement for an autopsy.
AB783,26,77 (b) The death must be reported under s. 979.01 (1) (b), (f), (h), or (j).
AB783,26,98 (c) The deceased was under 18 years of age and the death is unexplained or
9unusual.
AB783,26,12 10(3) If the conditions for ordering an inquest under s. 979.04 (1) are satisfied,
11the district attorney or attorney general may order an autopsy conducted on the body
12of a deceased.
AB783,26,14 13(4) An autopsy ordered under this section may be performed only by a licensed
14physician who has undergone specialized training in pathology.
AB783,26,17 15(5) The requirement to order an autopsy under sub. (2) does not preclude a
16coroner or medical examiner from allowing the removal of a body part that is the
17subject of an anatomical gift under s. 157.06.
AB783,26,24 18(6) Except if ordered under sub. (3), no person may perform an autopsy on the
19body of an individual whose death must be reported under s. 979.01 (1) without the
20written authorization of the coroner or medical examiner who has jurisdiction to
21investigate the death under s. 979.01. In cases in which the coroner or medical
22examiner issues an authorization to perform an autopsy, the coroner or medical
23examiner shall, if possible, issue the authorization within 12 hours after being
24notified of the death, or as soon as possible thereafter.
AB783,27,7
1(7) If the coroner or medical examiner who has jurisdiction to investigate a
2death under s. 979.01 determines that an autopsy or analysis of specimens, bodily
3fluids, or other bodily materials is not required for an investigation of a death that
4must be reported under s. 979.01 (1), the coroner or medical examiner shall, upon the
5request of the deceased's representative, inform the deceased's representative of his
6or her right to privately contract for pathology-related services at his or her own
7expense.
AB783, s. 62 8Section 62. 979.025 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,27,9 9979.025 (title) Autopsy Investigation of death of a correctional inmate.
AB783, s. 63 10Section 63. 979.025 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,27,1911 979.025 (1) Inmate confined to an institution in this state. If a coroner or
12medical examiner determines that the death of
an individual dies, who died while
13he or she is in the legal custody of the department and confined to a correctional
14facility located in this state, the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the
15death occurred shall perform an autopsy on the deceased individual. If the coroner
16or medical examiner who performs the autopsy determines that the individual's
17death
may have been the result of any of the situations that would permit the district
18attorney or attorney general to order an inquest under s. 979.04 (1), the coroner or
19medical examiner shall follow the procedures under s. 979.04 (2).
AB783, s. 64 20Section 64. 979.025 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,28,821 979.025 (2) Inmate confined in an institution in another state. If an
22individual dies while he or she is in the legal custody of the department and confined
23to a correctional facility in another state under a contract under s. 301.07, 301.21,
24or 302.25, the department shall have an autopsy and any other appropriate
25diagnostic procedure
performed by an appropriate authority in the other state or, if

1the body is returned to this state,
by order of the coroner or medical examiner of the
2county in which the circuit court is located that sentenced the individual to the
3custody of the department. If the coroner or medical examiner who performs orders
4the autopsy or other diagnostic procedure in this state determines that the
5individual's death may have been the result of any of the situations that would
6permit the district attorney to order an inquest under s. 979.04 (1), the coroner or
7medical examiner shall forward the results of the autopsy or other diagnostic
8procedure
to the appropriate authority in the other state.
AB783, s. 65 9Section 65. 979.025 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,28,1310 979.025 (3) Costs of an autopsy and diagnostic procedure. The costs of an
11autopsy or other diagnostic procedure performed under sub. (1) or (2) or performed
12on an inmate confined in a correctional facility in this state under s. 979.02 (2) (b)

13shall be paid by the department.
AB783, s. 66 14Section 66. 979.027 of the statutes is created to read:
AB783,28,25 15979.027 Disinterment for autopsy or other diagnostic procedure. The
16district attorney or attorney general may move the circuit court for the county in
17which a body is buried for an order disinterring the body for the purpose of
18conducting an autopsy or other diagnostic procedures. The order shall be granted
19by the circuit court upon a reasonable showing that any of the criteria specified in
20s. 979.04 exists. The clerk of the circuit court shall send a copy of the order to the
21coroner or medical examiner in the county in which the body is buried. Upon receipt
22of the order, the coroner or medical examiner shall issue a permit for disinterment
23and reinterment under s. 69.18 (4) (c). This section does not preclude the
24performance of additional autopsies or examinations of the body if there are
25unanswered pathological questions concerning the death and the causes of death.
AB783, s. 67
1Section 67. 979.03 of the statutes is repealed.
AB783, s. 68 2Section 68. 979.032 of the statutes is created to read:
AB783,29,6 3979.032 Coroner or medical examiner investigation records. (1) The
4coroner or medical examiner shall create and maintain, in accordance with rules
5promulgated under s. 165.65 (4), a record for each investigation conducted under s.
6979.01 that includes all of the following:
AB783,29,77 (a) The full name of the deceased and any known alias used by the deceased.
AB783,29,88 (b) A coroner or medical examiner case number.
AB783,29,99 (c) A case activity log.
AB783,29,1610 (d) An investigation report containing any personal information regarding the
11deceased that is relevant to determining the cause and manner of death, the medical
12history of the deceased, information relevant to the circumstances of the death, death
13scene observations, findings regarding the body of the deceased that are relevant to
14determining the cause of death, notation of evidence recovered, including any visual
15documentation, a list of other persons or agencies involved in the investigation, and
16a list of persons interviewed by the coroner or medical examiner regarding the case.
AB783,29,1717 (e) A written autopsy report, if an autopsy is completed.
AB783,29,2018 (f) Documentation of the chain of custody of all evidence and property obtained
19by the coroner or medical examiner, including an inventory sheet, described under
20s. 979.036 (2), of prescription medications, if applicable.
AB783,29,23 21(2) The coroner or medical examiner shall maintain investigation records
22created under sub. (1) in an office that is owned or leased by the county, maintained
23by the county, and designated as the office of the county coroner or medical examiner.
AB783,30,3
1(3) Subject to ss. 165.65 (5) and 979.034, the coroner or medical examiner shall
2maintain written policies regarding access to investigation records created or
3maintained under this section.
AB783, s. 69 4Section 69. 979.034 of the statutes is created to read:
AB783,30,11 5979.034 Confidentiality of coroner or medical examiner investigation
6records and information.
(1) The coroner or medical examiner shall keep
7confidential all records obtained under s. 51.30 (4) (b) 28. or 146.82 (2) (a) 18., all
8confidential documents obtained by subpoena under s. 979.015, and any information
9contained in such records or documents, except that the coroner or medical examiner
10may divulge such information as necessary to complete a medical certification under
11s. 69.18 (2).
AB783,30,19 12(2) The coroner or medical examiner shall keep records of autopsies and other
13diagnostic procedures, including any photographs or other pictorial images of the
14deceased made in connection with an autopsy, and information learned from an
15autopsy or other diagnostic procedure confidential. The coroner or medical examiner
16may not release such records or information except to persons listed under s. 146.82
17(2) who may access patient health care records without the patient's informed
18consent, to the deceased's representative or his or her designee, or for educational
19purposes.
AB783,30,25 20(3) If a law enforcement agency, or a district attorney investigating a death, or
21the attorney general, requests that the coroner or medical examiner keep
22investigation records under s. 979.032 and information related to an investigation
23confidential, the coroner or medical examiner shall keep such records and
24information confidential for as long as the law enforcement agency, district attorney,
25or attorney general requests.
AB783, s. 70
1Section 70. 979.036 of the statutes is created to read:
AB783,31,9 2979.036 Handling of personal property of deceased. (1) Each coroner or
3medical examiner shall keep an inventory of any money or other property that the
4coroner or medical examiner takes from a death scene or from a deceased person and
5does not immediately provide to a law enforcement agency as evidence. The coroner
6or medical examiner shall release any such property, other than prescription
7medication, that belonged to the deceased to the deceased's representative unless the
8property is needed as evidence or unless a court has issued an order to hold the
9property for payment of fees associated with the disposal of the body.
AB783,31,20 10(2) If the coroner or medical examiner takes prescription medications from a
11death scene or from the body of a deceased, the coroner or medical examiner shall list
12them on an inventory sheet and sign the inventory sheet. If the coroner or medical
13examiner does not provide the prescription medications to a law enforcement agency
14as evidence, the coroner or medical examiner shall destroy them in accordance with
15applicable county evidence retention policies and appropriate standards for disposal
16of medications, except that the coroner or medical examiner shall donate those
17prescription medications that satisfy the standards under s. 255.056 (3) to the drug
18repository program under s. 255.056 or to another similar drug repository program.
19The coroner or medical examiner shall indicate on the inventory sheet the disposition
20of the prescription medications.
AB783, s. 71 21Section 71. 979.04 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,32,12 22979.04 Inquests: when called. (1) If the district attorney or attorney general
23has notice of the death of any person and there is reason to believe from the
24circumstances surrounding the death that felony murder, first-degree or
252nd-degree intentional homicide, first-degree or 2nd-degree reckless homicide,

1homicide by negligent handling of dangerous weapon, explosives or fire, homicide by
2negligent operation of vehicle, homicide resulting from negligent control of a vicious
3animal, or homicide by intoxicated user of a vehicle or firearm may have been
4committed, or that death may have been due to suicide or unexplained or suspicious
5circumstances, the district attorney or attorney general may order that an inquest
6be conducted for the purpose of inquiring how the person died. The district attorney
7or attorney general shall appear in any such inquest representing the state in
8presenting all evidence which may be relevant or material to the inquiry of the
9inquest. The inquest may be held in any county in this state in which venue would
10lie for the trial of any offense charged as the result of or involving the death. An
11inquest may only be ordered by the district attorney or attorney general under this
12subsection or by the circuit judge under sub. (2).
AB783,32,21 13(2) If the coroner or medical examiner has knowledge of the death of any person
14in the manner described under sub. (1), he or she shall immediately notify the district
15attorney or attorney general. The notification shall include information concerning
16the circumstances surrounding the death. The coroner or medical examiner may
17request the district attorney or attorney general to order an inquest under sub. (1).
18If the district attorney refuses and attorney general refuse to order the inquest, a
19coroner or medical examiner may petition the circuit court to order an inquest. The
20court may issue the order if it finds that the district attorney has and attorney
21general have
abused his or her their discretion in not ordering an inquest.
AB783,33,2 22(3) Subsequent to receipt of notice of the death, the district attorney or attorney
23general
may request the coroner or medical examiner to conduct a preliminary
24investigation and report back to the district attorney or attorney general. The
25district attorney or attorney general may determine the scope of the preliminary

1investigation. This subsection does not limit or prevent any other investigation into
2the death by any law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the investigation.
AB783, s. 72 3Section 72. 979.05 (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB783,33,214 979.05 (2) The inquest shall be conducted before a jury unless the district
5attorney, attorney general, coroner, or medical examiner requests that the inquest
6be conducted before the judge or circuit court commissioner only. If the inquest is to
7be conducted before a jury, a sufficient number of names of prospective jurors shall
8be selected from the prospective juror list for the county in which the inquest is to
9be held by the clerk of circuit court in the manner provided in s. 756.06. The judge
10or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest shall summon the prospective
11jurors to appear before the judge or circuit court commissioner at the time fixed in
12the summons. The summons may be served by mail, or by personal service if the
13judge, circuit court commissioner, or district attorney , or attorney general
14determines personal service to be appropriate. The summons shall be in the form
15used to summon petit jurors in the circuit courts of the county. Any person who fails
16to appear when summoned as an inquest juror is subject to a forfeiture of not more
17than $40. The inquest jury shall consist of 6 jurors. If 6 jurors do not remain from
18the number originally summoned after establishment of qualifications, the judge or
19circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest may require the clerk of the circuit
20court to select sufficient additional jurors' names. Those persons shall be summoned
21forthwith by the sheriff of the county.
AB783,34,10 22(3) The judge or circuit court commissioner shall examine on oath or
23affirmation each person who is called as a juror to discover whether the juror is
24related by blood, marriage or adoption to the decedent, any member of the decedent's
25family, the district attorney, the attorney general, any other attorney appearing in

1the case, or any members of the office of the district attorney, the attorney general,
2or of the office of any other attorney appearing in the case, has expressed or formed
3any opinion regarding the matters being inquired into in the inquest or is aware of
4or has any bias or prejudice concerning the matters being inquired into in the
5inquest. If any prospective juror is found to be not indifferent or is found to have
6formed an opinion which cannot be laid aside, that juror shall be excused. The judge
7or circuit commissioner may select one or more alternate jurors if the inquest is likely
8to be protracted. This subsection does not limit the right of the district attorney or
9attorney general
to supplement the judge's or circuit commissioner's examination of
10any prospective jurors as to qualifications.
AB783,34,13 11(4) When 6 jurors have been selected, the judge or circuit court commissioner
12shall administer to them an oath or affirmation which that shall be substantially in
13the following form:
AB783,34,1914 You do solemnly swear (affirm) that you will diligently inquire and determine
15on behalf of this state when, and in what manner and by what means, the person
16known as .... .... who is now dead came to his or her death and that you will return
17a true verdict thereon according to your knowledge, according to the evidence
18presented and according to the instructions given to you by the .... (judge) (circuit
19court commissioner).
AB783,35,2 20(5) Prior to the submission of evidence to the jury, the judge or circuit court
21commissioner may instruct the jury on its duties and on the substantive law
22regarding the issues which may be inquired into before the jury. The district attorney
23or attorney general may, at any time during the course of the inquest, make
24statements to the jury relating to procedural or evidentiary matters he or she and

1the judge or circuit court commissioner deem appropriate. Section 972.12 applies to
2the conduct of the inquest jury.
AB783,35,5 3(6) The judge or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest may order
4that proceedings be secret if the district attorney or attorney general so requests or
5concurs.
AB783, s. 73 6Section 73. 979.06 (1), (2) and (4) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB783,35,127 979.06 (1) The judge or circuit court commissioner may issue subpoenas for
8witnesses at the request of the coroner or medical examiner and shall issue
9subpoenas for witnesses requested by the district attorney or attorney general.
10Subpoenas are returnable at the time and place stated therein. Persons who are
11served with a subpoena may be compelled to attend proceedings in the manner
12provided in s. 885.12.
AB783,35,20 13(2) The judge or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest and the
14district attorney or attorney general may require by subpoena the attendance of one
15or more expert witnesses, including physicians, surgeons, and pathologists, for the
16purposes of conducting an examination of the body and all relevant and material
17scientific and medical tests connected with the examination and testifying as to the
18results of the examination and tests. The expert witnesses so subpoenaed shall
19receive reasonable fees determined by the district attorney or attorney general and
20the judge or circuit court commissioner conducting the inquest.
AB783,35,22 21(4) The judge or circuit court commissioner shall administer an oath or
22affirmation to each witness which that shall be substantially in the following form:
AB783,35,2523 You do solemnly swear (affirm) that the evidence and testimony you give to this
24inquest concerning the death of the person known as .... .... shall be the truth, the
25whole truth and nothing but the truth.
AB783, s. 74
1Section 74. 979.07 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,36,112 979.07 (1) (a) If a person refuses to testify or to produce books, papers or
3documents when required to do so before an inquest for the reason that the testimony
4or evidence required of the person may tend to incriminate him or her or subject him
5or her to a forfeiture or penalty, the person may be compelled to testify or produce the
6evidence by order of the circuit court of the county in which the inquest is convened
7on motion of the district attorney or attorney general. A person who testifies or
8produces evidence in obedience to the command of the court in that case is not subject
9to any forfeiture or penalty for or on account of testifying or producing evidence,
10except the person is subject to prosecution and punishment for perjury or false
11swearing committed in so testifying.
AB783, s. 75 12Section 75. 979.08 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,36,2113 979.08 (1) When the evidence is concluded and the testimony closed, the judge
14or circuit court commissioner shall instruct the jury on its duties and on the
15substantive law regarding the issues inquired into before the jury. The district
16attorney or attorney general shall prepare a written set of appropriate requested
17instructions and shall submit them to the judge or circuit court commissioner who,
18together with the district attorney or attorney general, shall compile the final set of
19instructions which shall be given. The instructions shall include those criminal
20offenses for which the judge or circuit court commissioner believes a reasonable jury
21might return a verdict based upon a finding of probable cause.
AB783, s. 76 22Section 76. 979.08 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,36,2523 979.08 (5) The verdict delivered by the inquest jury is advisory and does not
24preclude or require the issuance of any criminal charges by the district attorney or
25attorney general
.
AB783, s. 77
1Section 77. 979.08 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,37,72 979.08 (6) Any verdict so rendered, after being validated and signed by the
3judge or circuit court commissioner, together with the record of the inquest, shall be
4delivered to the district attorney or attorney general for consideration. After
5considering the verdict and record, the district attorney or attorney general may
6deliver the entire inquest record or any part thereof to the coroner or medical
7examiner for safekeeping.
AB783, s. 78 8Section 78. 979.08 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,37,119 979.08 (7) The record of a secret inquest proceeding shall not be open for
10inspection unless so ordered by the judge or circuit court commissioner conducting
11the inquest upon petition by the district attorney or attorney general.
AB783, s. 79 12Section 79. 979.09 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,38,2 13979.09 Burial Disposition of an unidentified or unclaimed body. If any
14judge or circuit court commissioner conducts an inquest as to the death of a stranger
15or of a person whose identity is unknown or whose body is unclaimed or if the district
16attorney determines that no inquest into the death of such a person is necessary and
17the circuit judge has not ordered an inquest under s. 979.04 (2),
a coroner or medical
18examiner has custody of an unidentified or unclaimed body of an individual whose
19death was investigated under s. 979.01, and the coroner or medical examiner has
20made reasonable efforts to identify the body or locate the deceased's representative,

21the coroner or medical examiner shall cause the body to be decently buried or
22cremated and shall certify to all the charges incurred in taking any inquest by him
23or her and to
the expenses of burial or cremation of the dead body. The charges and
24expenses shall be audited by the county board of the proper county and paid out of
25the county treasury
with funds other than funds appropriated for the operation of

1the coroner's or medical examiner's office. The immunity provisions under s. 157.02
2(2m) (b) apply to a coroner's or medical examiner's actions under this section
.
AB783, s. 80 3Section 80. 979.10 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,38,74 979.10 (1) (a) (intro.) No person may cremate the corpse body of a deceased
5person within 48 hours after the pronouncement of death, or the discovery of the
6death, of the deceased person
unless the death was caused by a contagious or
7infectious disease. and one of the following conditions applies:
AB783,38,9 8(ag) No person may cremate a corpse body unless the person has received a
9cremation permit release from one of the following:
AB783, s. 81 10Section 81. 979.10 (1) (a) 1., 2. and 3. of the statutes are renumbered 979.10
11(1) (ag) 1., 2. and 3. and amended to read:
AB783,38,1412 979.10 (1) (ag) 1. The coroner or medical examiner in the county where the
13death occurred was pronounced if the death occurred was pronounced in this state;
14and the death was not subject to an investigation under s. 979.01.
AB783,38,1715 2. The coroner or medical examiner in the county where the crime, injury, or
16other
event which that caused the death occurred if the death occurred in this state
17and if the death is the subject of an investigation under s. 979.01 ; or.
AB783,38,2118 3. The coroner or medical examiner of the county where the corpse body is to
19be cremated if the death occurred was pronounced outside this state. A cremation
20permit issued under this subdivision may not be used in any county except the county
21in which the cremation permit is issued.
AB783, s. 82 22Section 82. 979.10 (1) (a) 1m. and 2m. of the statutes are created to read:
AB783,38,2423 979.10 (1) (a) 1m. The body must be cremated immediately to effectively
24contain the disease.
AB783,39,2
12m. A public health authority orders sooner disposal of the body under s.
2157.055 (2) (c) during a state of emergency related to public health.
AB783, s. 83 3Section 83. 979.10 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,39,94 979.10 (1) (b) A coroner or medical examiner shall include in any cremation
5permit release issued under par. (a) (ag) a statement that he or she has viewed the
6corpse body which is the subject of the permit release and made personal inquiry into
7the cause and manner of death under sub. (2) and is of the opinion that no further
8examination or judicial inquiry is necessary. The release shall also specify the
9earliest date and time that the cremation may occur.
AB783, s. 84 10Section 84. 979.10 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 157.113.
AB783, s. 85 11Section 85. 979.10 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB783,39,2012 979.10 (1) (d) If the medical certification of the cause and manner of death of
13a deceased is completed by a physician under s. 69.18 (2) (b) or (c), the coroner or
14medical examiner shall review the medical certification before issuing a cremation
15release for the deceased. It is not a violation of s. 69.24 for a coroner or medical
16examiner to make or receive a copy of a death certificate, that has not been filed
17under s. 69.18 (1), for purposes of this paragraph. A coroner or medical examiner
18may not release such a copy of a death certificate to any other person or use the copy
19for a purpose other than complying with the review requirement under this
20paragraph.
AB783, s. 86 21Section 86. 979.10 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,40,1022 979.10 (2) If a corpse body is to be cremated, the coroner or medical examiner
23shall view the body, make a careful personal inquiry into the cause and manner of
24death, and conduct an autopsy or order the conducting of an autopsy, if in his or her
25or
the coroner or medical examiner or district attorney's opinion attorney or attorney

1general determines that
it is necessary to determine the cause and manner of death,
2perform or order an autopsy performed on the body
. If the coroner or medical
3examiner determines that no further examination or judicial inquiry is necessary he
4or she shall certify that fact and issue a cremation release. Upon written request by
5the district attorney or attorney general, the coroner or medical examiner shall
6obtain the concurrence of the district attorney or attorney general before issuing the
7certification cremation release. If the coroner or medical examiner determines that
8further examination or judicial inquiry is necessary, he or she shall notify the district
9attorney or attorney general under s. 979.04 (2) and refuse to issue a cremation
10release until the examination or judicial inquiry is concluded
.
AB783, s. 87 11Section 87. 979.10 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
AB783, s. 88 12Section 88. 979.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB783,40,1713 979.10 (4) Whoever accepts, receives, or takes any corpse body of a deceased
14person with intent to destroy the corpse body by means of cremation, or who cremates
15or aids and assists in the cremation of any corpse body of a deceased person
16without having presented the permit release specified in sub. (1) shall be fined not
17more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 9 months or both.
AB783, s. 89 18Section 89. 979.10 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
AB783,40,2219 979.10 (5) If a coroner or medical examiner issues a release to embalm
20authorizing the burial or entombment of a body but refuses under sub. (2) to issue
21a cremation release for the body, the coroner or medial examiner and county are not
22liable for the cost of the storing the body.
AB783, s. 90 23Section 90. 979.10 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
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