The bill requires a coroner or medical examiner to maintain an inventory of
personal property that the coroner or medical examiner takes from a death scene or
from a deceased. The bill specifies that the coroner or medical examiner must
destroy, in accordance with applicable county evidence retention policies and
standards for disposal of medications, or donate to a drug repository program any
prescription medications that the coroner or medical examiner collects in an
investigation and does not provide to a law enforcement agency.
Disposition of bodies
Under current law, the coroner's or medical examiner's authorization is
required for various activities related to the disposition of bodies.
Authorization to embalm or dispose of a body. Under current law, a coroner's
or medical examiner's authorization is required to embalm or perform an autopsy on
the body of a person whose death must be reported. A coroner or medical examiner

must issue the authorization within 12 hours of receiving notice of the death or as
soon thereafter as possible in the event of unexplained, unusual, or suspicious
circumstances.
The bill requires an authorization from the coroner or medical examiner to
embalm, bury, entomb, cremate, or deliver for research purposes the body of a person
whose death must be reported. The bill specifies certain information that a coroner
or medical examiner must include on an authorization to embalm or dispose of a body,
eliminates the general 12-hour deadline for issuing an authorization to embalm, and
provides that a coroner or medical examiner must issue an authorization to embalm
or dispose of a body as soon as possible after being notified of a death.
Cremation permit. Under current law, a cremation permit issued by a coroner
or medical examiner is required for cremation of the body of any deceased person.
Currently, a person may not cremate a body within 48 hours of death, or discovery
of death, unless the death was caused by a contagious or infectious disease. A coroner
or medical examiner must view a body and make inquiry into the cause and manner
of death before issuing a cremation permit. Finally, a cremation permit for the body
of a person who died outside the state may be used only in the county in which it is
issued.
The bill calls the authorization required for cremation a release rather than a
permit. The bill provides that even when a death is caused by a contagious or
infectious disease, the body may not be cremated within 48 hours of the
pronouncement of death unless the body must be cremated immediately to
effectively contain the disease or a public health authority orders the sooner disposal
of the body during a state of emergency that is related to public health. The bill
requires that, if the medical certification of the cause and manner of death on a death
certificate is completed by a physician, the coroner or medical examiner must review
the medical certification before issuing a cremation release. The bill further requires
that a coroner or medical examiner must specify on a cremation release the earliest
date and time that cremation may occur. Finally, the bill requires that a person who
receives a body for medical research or education must request a cremation release
before receiving the body.
Authorization to disinter and reinter. Under current law, a coroner or medical
examiner must issue an authorization to disinter and reinter a body upon an order
of the court or at the request of various next of kin of the deceased or another person
who has authority to dispose of the body.
The bill clarifies that no person, other than a cemetery, may disinter a body or
human remains without authorization from the coroner or medical examiner. The
bill adds, as a condition for obtaining a coroner's or medical examiner's authorization
for disinterment without a court order, that the person requesting authorization
provide proof of intent to cremate or bury the disinterred remains.
Disposition of unidentified or unclaimed bodies. Under current law, if an
inmate of a state, county, or municipal institution dies, and a relative or friend of the
deceased does not claim the body and a medical or mortuary school does not take the
body, the superintendent of the institution must bury the body.

This bill provides that, if a person other than the superintendent of a state,
county, or municipal institution has an unidentified or unclaimed body, the person
shall notify the coroner or medical examiner in the county of residence of the
deceased, who must bury or cremate the body. The bill further provides that, if the
coroner or medical examiner makes reasonable efforts to identify a body and notify
the deceased's representative of disposal of the body, the coroner or medical examiner
is immune from civil liability for his or her choice of method for disposing of the body.
Mental health treatment records
Under current law, a coroner or medical examiner may obtain a deceased's
health care records without informed consent for the purpose of completing a medical
certification on a certificate of death or for conducting a death investigation. This
bill provides a coroner or medical examiner access to a deceased's mental health
treatment records without informed consent for the purpose of completing a medical
certification on a certificate of death or for conducting a death investigation.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB867,1 1Section 1. 15.405 (18) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,8,52 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:
AB867,8,76 (a) Two individuals, each of whom is a coroner, chief deputy coroner, or deputy
7coroner.
AB867,8,118 (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.
10465.01 (3), other than a medicolegal investigation staff member included under par.
11(a).
AB867,8,1312 (b) Two individuals, each of whom is an accredited medical examiner, as defined
13in s. 465.01 (1g).
AB867,9,1
1(c) One member of the Wisconsin District Attorneys' Association.
AB867,9,22 (d) One member of the Badger State Sheriffs Association.
AB867,9,33 (e) One member of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.
AB867,9,44 (g) The attorney general or his or her designee.
AB867,9,55 (i) One public member.
AB867,2 6Section 2. 20.165 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,9,157 20.165 (1) (g) General program operations. The amounts in the schedule for
8the licensing, rule making, and regulatory functions of the department, other than
9the licensing, rule-making, and credentialing functions of the medical examining
10board and the affiliated credentialing boards attached to the medical examining
11board and except for preparing, administering, and grading examinations. Ninety
12percent of all moneys received under chs. 440 to 480, except ch. chs. 448 and 465 and
13ss. 440.03 (13), and 440.05 (1) (b), and, less $10 of each renewal fee received under
14s. 452.12 (5); all moneys transferred from the appropriation under par. (i); and all
15moneys received under s. 440.055 (2), shall be credited to this appropriation.
AB867,3 16Section 3. 20.165 (1) (hr) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,9,2017 20.165 (1) (hr) Medicolegal investigation examining board; program revenues.
18All moneys received from fees imposed for licenses issued under s. 465.10 to provide
19training and education to individuals licensed under s. 465.10 and to support the
20medicolegal investigation examining board in performing its duties and functions.
AB867,4 21Section 4. 20.165 (1) (kd) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,9,2522 20.165 (1) (kd) Medicolegal investigation examining board. All moneys
23transferred from the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (gm) to provide
24training and education to individuals licensed under s. 465.10 and to support the
25medicolegal investigation examining board in performing its duties and functions.
AB867,5
1Section 5. 20.435 (1) (gm) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act
255
, section 669, is amended to read:
AB867,10,133 20.435 (1) (gm) Licensing, review and certifying activities; fees; supplies and
4services.
The amounts in the schedule for the purposes specified in ss. 253.12,
5254.176, 254.178, 254.179, 254.20 (5) and (8), 254.31 to 254.39, 254.41, 254.47,
6254.61 to 254.88, and 256.15 (8), ch. 69, for the purchase and distribution of medical
7supplies, and to analyze and provide data under s. 250.04. All moneys received under
8ss. 250.04 (3m), 254.176, 254.178, 254.181, 254.20 (5) and (8), 254.31 to 254.39,
9254.41, 254.47, 254.61 to 254.88, and 256.15 (5) (f) and (8) (d) and ch. 69, other than
10s. 69.22 (1m), and as reimbursement for medical supplies shall be credited to this
11appropriation account, except that all moneys received under s. 69.22 for copies of
12death certificates shall be transferred to the appropriation account under s. 20.165
13(1) (kd)
.
AB867,6 14Section 6. 20.435 (1) (gm) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Acts
1555
, section 670, and .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:
AB867,10,2516 20.435 (1) (gm) Licensing, review and certifying activities; fees; supplies and
17services.
The amounts in the schedule for the purposes specified in ss. 253.12,
18254.176, 254.178, 254.179, 254.20 (5) and (8), 254.31 to 254.39, 254.41, and 256.15
19(8), ch. 69, for the purchase and distribution of medical supplies, and to analyze and
20provide data under s. 250.04. All moneys received under ss. 250.04 (3m), 254.176,
21254.178, 254.181, 254.20 (5) and (8), 254.31 to 254.39, 254.41, and 256.15 (5) (f) and
22(8) (d) and ch. 69, other than s. 69.22 (1m), and as reimbursement for medical
23supplies shall be credited to this appropriation account, except that all moneys
24received under s. 69.22 for copies of death certificates shall be transferred to the
25appropriation account under s. 20.165 (1) (kd).
AB867,7
1Section 7. 51.30 (4) (b) 29. of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,11,112 51.30 (4) (b) 29. To a medical examiner, assistant medical examiner, coroner,
3or deputy coroner upon an oral or written request from that person, if the individual's
4treatment records are relevant to completion of a medical certification for the
5individual's death under s. 69.18 (2) or to an investigation of the cause or manner of
6the individual's death under s. 979.01 or 979.10. A custodian of treatment records
7may initiate contact with a coroner or medical examiner to inform him or her of
8treatment records of a deceased individual that may be relevant to the completion
9of a medical certification or the investigation of a death. The recipient of any
10information under this subdivision shall keep the information confidential except as
11necessary to comply with s. 69.18, 979.01, or 979.10.
AB867,8 12Section 8. 69.01 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,11,1713 69.01 (12) "Final disposition" means the disposition of a corpse or stillbirth by
14burial, interment, entombment, cremation, delivery to a university or school under
15s. 157.02 (3) (1m) (c), or delivery to a medical or dental school anatomy department
16under s. 157.06. "Final disposition" does not include disposition of the ashes
17produced by cremation of a corpse or stillbirth.
AB867,9 18Section 9. 69.18 (2) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,12,219 69.18 (2) (d) 1. Except as provided under par. (e), if a the manner of death is
20not natural and
is the subject of a coroner's or medical examiner's determination
21investigated by a coroner or medical examiner under s. 979.01 or 979.03, the coroner
22or medical examiner or a physician supervised by a coroner or medical examiner in
23the county where the event which caused the death occurred shall complete and sign
24the medical certification for the death and mail the death certificate within 5 days
25after 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.
AB867,10 3Section 10. 69.18 (2) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,12,104 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.
AB867,11 11Section 11. 69.18 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,12,1812 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.
AB867,12 19Section 12. 69.18 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,13,320 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
2979.03
, the report for final disposition shall be submitted to the coroner or medical
3examiner in the county in which the event which caused the death occurred.
AB867,13 4Section 13. 69.18 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,13,95 69.18 (3) (b) If a medical certification for a corpse is required under sub. (2) (d),
6no person may embalm the corpse or effect its final disposition without satisfying the
7requirements for a report under par. (a) and without obtaining the written
8permission of the person required to complete the medical certification under sub.
9(2) (d)
an authorization to embalm or dispose of a body under s. 979.105.
AB867,14 10Section 14. 69.18 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,13,1811 69.18 (3) (d) No person may remove a corpse from this state if the place of death
12was in this state unless the corpse is accompanied by a copy of the report for final
13disposition. If a medical certification is required for the corpse under sub. (2) (d), the
14corpse must be accompanied by the report and the written permission of the coroner
15or medical examiner to embalm and effect final disposition
an authorization to
16embalm or dispose of a body under s. 979.105
. No person may remove a stillbirth
17from this state if the delivery of the stillbirth was in this state unless the stillbirth
18is accompanied by a report for final disposition.
AB867,15 19Section 15. 69.18 (4) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 69.18 (4) (c) and
20amended to read:
AB867,14,421 69.18 (4) (c) Subject to s. 157.111, the coroner or medical examiner of the county
22in which a decedent's corpse is interred shall issue an authorization a permit for
23disinterment and reinterment upon receipt of an order of a court of competent
24jurisdiction or upon receipt of a written application for disinterment and reinterment
25signed by the person in charge of the disinterment and by any of the following

1persons, in order of priority stated, when persons in prior classes are not available
2at the time of application, and in the absence of actual notice of contrary indications
3by the decedent or actual notice of opposition by a member of the same or a prior
4class:
.
AB867,16 5Section 16. 69.18 (4) (a) 1g. to 6. of the statutes are renumbered 69.18 (4) (am)
61g. to 6.
AB867,17 7Section 17. 69.18 (4) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,14,108 69.18 (4) (am) (intro.) In this subsection, "representative of the decedent"
9means any member of the following classes of individuals, in the order of priority
10listed:
AB867,18 11Section 18. 69.18 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,14,1412 69.18 (4) (b) Except as provided in s. 157.112 (3), no person may disinter a
13human corpse from a grave or tomb without first obtaining a disinterment permit
14under par. (c) or (d).
AB867,19 15Section 19. 69.18 (4) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.
AB867,20 16Section 20. 69.18 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,14,2117 69.18 (4) (d) Subject to s. 157.111, the coroner or medical examiner of the county
18in which a decedent's corpse is interred shall issue a disinterment permit upon
19receipt of a written application for disinterment that is made and signed by a
20representative of the decedent and signed by the person in charge of disinterment
21if all of the following apply:
AB867,14,2322 1. No representative of the decedent who is a member of a prior class under par.
23(am) is available at the time the application is made.
AB867,14,2524 2. The coroner or medical examiner does not have actual notice that the
25decedent would have opposed the disinterment.
AB867,15,3
13. The coroner or medical examiner does not have actual notice of opposition
2to disinterment by a representative of the decedent who is a member of the same or
3a prior class under par. (am) as the applicant.
AB867,15,54 4. The applicant provides proof of intent to cremate the decedent's corpse or to
5lawfully inter the decedent's corpse in a specified burial place.
AB867,21 6Section 21. 69.18 (4) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,15,87 69.18 (4) (e) No person may cremate a corpse disinterred under this subsection
8without obtaining a cremation release under s. 979.10 (1) (ag).
AB867,22 9Section 22. 69.18 (4) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,15,1210 69.18 (4) (f) Except as provided in s. 157.112 (3), no person may disinter a
11decedent's cremated remains from a cemetery unless all of the following conditions
12are satisfied:
AB867,15,1313 1. The cemetery authority, or its designee, consents to disinterment.
AB867,15,1614 2. A representative of the decedent consents to disinterment and no other
15representative of the decedent who is a member of the same or a prior class under
16par. (am) objects to disinterment.
AB867,23 17Section 23. 69.20 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,15,2018 69.20 (2) (a) 2. For a certificate of death, any of the persons specified under s.
1969.18 (4) (a) (am) 1g. to 6. or an individual who is authorized in writing by one of the
20persons.
AB867,24 21Section 24. 157.02 (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the statutes are renumbered
22157.02 (1m) (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), and 157.02 (1m) (b) and (e), as renumbered, are
23amended to read:
AB867,16,324 157.02 (1m) (b) Time allowed relative to act. If a relative or friend fails to
25arrange for taking charge of the corpse within a reasonable time after death, the

1superintendent or other officer may proceed as provided in this section subsection,
2but relatives or friends may claim the corpse at any time before it has been delivered
3pursuant to sub. (3) par. (c).
AB867,16,54 (e) Other disposition. If the corpse is not disposed of under subs. (1) to (4) pars.
5(a) to (d)
, the superintendent or public officer shall properly bury it.
AB867,25 6Section 25. 157.02 (1m) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,16,77 157.02 (1m) (title) Disposition of inmate's remains.
AB867,26 8Section 26. 157.02 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB867,16,169 157.02 (2m) Disposition of other unclaimed remains. (a) If a person, other
10than a person who has responsibility to dispose of a corpse under sub. (1m), has the
11corpse of a deceased individual and cannot by exercise of reasonable effort locate a
12representative of the deceased, as defined in s. 979.001 (8), or a representative of the
13deceased refuses to claim the corpse for disposition, the person shall notify the
14coroner or medical examiner in the county of residence of the deceased, and the
15coroner or medical examiner shall take custody of the corpse and cause the corpse
16to be decently buried or cremated.
AB867,16,1917 (b) A coroner or medical examiner is immune from civil liability for his or her
18choice of method for disposing of an unidentified corpse under this subsection if the
19coroner or medical examiner made reasonable efforts to identify the corpse.
AB867,16,2320 (c) A coroner or medical examiner is immune from civil liability for his or her
21choice of method for disposing of an unclaimed corpse under this subsection if the
22coroner or medical examiner made reasonable efforts to notify a representative of the
23deceased, as defined in s. 979.001 (8), of the disposal of the corpse.
AB867,27 24Section 27. 157.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,17,5
1157.03 (1) The corpse of a person who died with smallpox, diphtheria, or scarlet
2fever, or who in his or her last sickness shall request to be buried or cremated, and
3of a stranger or traveler who suddenly died, shall not be disposed of under s. 157.02
4(3) (1m) (c), and no person having charge of a corpse authorized to be so disposed of
5shall sell or deliver it to be used outside the state.
AB867,28 6Section 28. 157.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB867,17,107 157.03 (2) Upon receipt of the corpse by a university or school pursuant to s.
8157.02 (3) (1m) (c) it shall be properly embalmed and retained for 3 months before
9being used or dismembered and shall be delivered to any relative claiming it upon
10satisfactory proof of relationship.
AB867,29 11Section 29. 157.055 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
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