SB297,35 15Section 35. 440.05 (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act
16116
and 2017 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:
SB297,16,19 17440.05 Standard fees. (intro.) The following standard fees apply to all initial
18credentials, except as provided in ss. 440.51, 444.03, 444.11, 446.02 (2) (c), 447.04 (2)
19(c) 2., 449.17 (1m) (d), 449.18 (2) (d), and 465.05 (2):
SB297,36 20Section 36. 440.08 (2) (a) 46t. of the statutes is created to read:
SB297,16,2221 440.08 (2) (a) 46t. Medicolegal investigation: January 1, 2019, and
22quadrennially thereafter.
SB297,37 23Section 37. 440.78 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB297,16,2424 440.78 (1) (b) A copy of the cremation permit issued under s. 979.10 (1) (a) (ag).
SB297,38 25Section 38. Chapter 465 of the statutes is created to read:
SB297,17,2
1chapter 465
2 medicolegal investigation
SB297,17,3 3465.01 Definitions. In this chapter:
SB297,17,5 4(1g) “Accredited medical examiner" means a medical examiner appointed
5under s. 59.34 (1) (a) or 59.38 (5) who satisfies any of the following:
SB297,17,76 (a) He or she is accredited as a certified forensic pathologist by the American
7Board of Pathology.
SB297,17,98 (b) He or she is accredited as a certified forensic anthropologist by the American
9Board of Forensic Anthropology.
SB297,17,1110 (c) He or she is certified in forensic odontology by the American Board of
11Forensic Odontology.
SB297,17,12 12(1r) “Board" means the medicolegal investigation examining board.
SB297,17,14 13(2) “Medical examiner" means a nonaccredited medical examiner or an
14accredited medical examiner.
SB297,17,18 15(3) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), “medicolegal investigation staff member"
16means a chief deputy coroner, a deputy coroner, a deputy medical examiner, and any
17other individual who assists the office of a coroner or medical examiner with an
18investigation of a death.
SB297,17,2019 (b) “Medicolegal investigation staff member" does not include any of the
20following:
SB297,17,2221 1. An individual who is elected as a coroner or appointed to fill a vacancy as a
22coroner.
SB297,17,2323 2. A medical examiner.
SB297,17,2524 3. An individual performing solely administrative functions in the office of a
25coroner or medical examiner.
SB297,18,2
1(4) “Nonaccredited medical examiner" means a medical examiner appointed
2under s. 59.34 (1) (a) or 59.38 (5) other than an accredited medical examiner.
SB297,18,4 3465.05 Powers and duties of board. (1) Duties. The board shall do all of
4the following:
SB297,18,75 (a) Promulgate rules specifying standards and curricula for the training and
6education requirements to be satisfied by individuals who seek or possess a license
7in medicolegal investigation.
SB297,18,98 (b) Coordinate and provide, on a regional basis and at no cost to licensees, the
9training and education described in s. 465.10 (3), (3m) (b), and (4) (a) 1. and (b) 2.
SB297,18,1010 (c) Monitor compliance with the licensure requirements under this chapter.
SB297,18,1311 (d) Approve instructor certification standards that must be satisfied in order
12for a person to conduct the training and education required under s. 465.10 (3), (3m)
13(b), and (4) (a) 1. and (b) 2.
SB297,18,1614 (dm) If an individual who holds a license issued under s. 465.10 fails to satisfy
15the requirement under s. 465.10 (3) (a) within the period specified in s. 465.10 (3) (a),
16revoke the individual's license.
SB297,18,1917 (e) If a license issued under s. 465.10 is revoked by the board or is not renewed,
18do any of the following that is applicable with respect to the individual who was the
19holder of the license:
SB297,18,2420 1. If the individual is a nonaccredited medical examiner, send a statement to
21the county board or county executive, if applicable, for any county in which the
22nonaccredited medical examiner serves recommending dismissal of the
23nonaccredited medical examiner because of the revocation of or failure to renew the
24license.
SB297,19,3
12. If the individual is a medicolegal investigation staff member, send a notice
2to the office in which the medicolegal investigation staff member works notifying the
3coroner or medical examiner of the revocation of or failure to renew the license.
SB297,19,7 4(2) Powers. The board may impose fees for initial licenses or for license
5renewals under s. 465.10 (2) and (4). If the board imposes any fee under this
6subsection, the board shall set the fee at an amount commensurate with the cost of
7issuing licenses and monitoring compliance with this chapter.
SB297,19,12 8465.10 License required; requirements to maintain license. (1) License
9required.
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may perform a death
10investigation or perform the functions of a medical examiner or medicolegal
11investigation staff member without a license in medicolegal investigation issued
12under this section.
SB297,19,1413 (b) None of the following is required to have a license in medicolegal
14investigation issued under this section:
SB297,19,1515 1. An accredited medical examiner.
SB297,19,1716 2. An individual who is elected as a coroner or appointed to fill a vacancy as a
17coroner.
SB297,19,19 18(2) Issuing of licenses. (a) Initial license. The board shall issue a license in
19medicolegal investigation to an individual if all of the following are satisfied:
SB297,19,2220 1. The individual is appointed as a nonaccredited medical examiner or is hired
21by a coroner or medical examiner to serve as a medicolegal investigation staff
22member.
SB297,19,2323 2. The individual pays any fee imposed by the board under s. 465.05 (2).
SB297,20,324 (b) License renewal. The renewal date for a license issued under this subsection
25is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a). Renewal applications shall include any fee

1established by the board under s. 465.05 (2) and proof satisfactory to the board that
2the individual has completed all hours of training or education required under sub.
3(3).
SB297,20,6 4(3) Training and education requirements. (a) An individual who is issued an
5initial license under sub. (2) (a) shall, within 18 months after the license is issued,
6complete a basic, 40-hour death investigation training course approved by the board.
SB297,20,117 (am) 1. An individual who is issued an initial license under sub. (2) (a) within
818 months prior to the next renewal date may renew the license one time without
9satisfying the requirement under par. (a). The individual may renew the license a
102nd time following completion, within the period specified under par. (a), of that
11requirement.
SB297,20,1412 2. An individual who is issued an initial license under sub. (2) (a) more than
1318 months prior to the next renewal date may renew the license one time after
14satisfying, within the period specified under par. (a), the requirement under par. (a).
SB297,20,1915 (b) An individual applying for a renewal of a license issued under sub. (2) (a)
16subsequent to the 2nd renewal under par. (am) 1. or the first renewal under par. (am)
172., and an individual applying for a renewal of a license issued under sub. (2) (a)
18subsequent to the renewal under sub. (3m) (b), shall complete 24 hours of education,
19as prescribed by the board.
SB297,21,2 20(3m) Currently serving individuals. (a) Notwithstanding sub. (2) (a), the
21board shall issue an initial license in medicolegal investigation under sub. (2) (a) to
22every individual who is serving as a nonaccredited medical examiner or medicolegal
23investigation staff member in this state on the effective date of this paragraph ....
24[LRB inserts date]. The board may also, in the manner prescribed by the board, issue
25an initial license in medicolegal investigation under sub. (2) (a) to an individual who

1is serving as a coroner in this state on the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB
2inserts date], and who elects to receive a license under this paragraph.
SB297,21,63 (b) Notwithstanding sub. (3) (a) and (am), an individual issued an initial license
4under par. (a) is not required to satisfy the requirement under sub. (3) (a), but shall
5instead, prior to the January 1, 2019, renewal date, satisfy all of the following in
6order to renew the license:
SB297,21,77 1. Complete 24 hours of education, as prescribed by the board.
SB297,21,98 2. In addition to the hours of education required under subd. 1., do one of the
9following:
SB297,21,1010 a. Complete 16 hours of education, as prescribed by the board.
SB297,21,1211 b. Obtain a waiver from the requirement under subd. 2. a. in the method
12described under par. (c).
SB297,21,1713 (c) The board may grant a waiver of the education requirement under par. (b)
142. a. to a coroner, nonaccredited medical examiner, or medicolegal investigation staff
15member who holds a credential, in good standing, from a nationally recognized
16accreditation organization specializing in death investigation education and who
17applies to the board for a waiver in the method prescribed by the board.
SB297,21,1918 (d) Notwithstanding sub. (2) (a) 2. and s. 465.05 (2), no initial license fee may
19be imposed for individuals issued an initial license under par. (a).
SB297,21,22 20(4) Optional license. (a) Initial license. The board may issue a license in
21medicolegal investigation to an individual, other than an individual required to hold
22a license under sub. (1), who satisfies all of the following criteria:
SB297,21,2423 1. The individual successfully completes 40 hours of training, as prescribed by
24the board, and any additional requirements set by the board.
SB297,22,2
12. The individual applies to the board for a license in the manner prescribed
2by the board.
SB297,22,43 3. The individual pays any licensing fee imposed by the board under s. 465.05
4(2).
SB297,22,75 (b) License renewal. The renewal date for a license issued under this subsection
6is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a). Renewal applications shall include all of the
7following:
SB297,22,88 1. Any fee established by the board under s. 465.05 (2).
SB297,22,139 2. Proof satisfactory to the board that the individual has completed, in the
104-year period preceding the renewal date, 24 hours of education, as prescribed by the
11board. This subdivision does not apply to an individual applying for an initial
12renewal who is issued a license under par. (a) when there is less than one year
13remaining until the next license renewal date.
SB297,22,1514 3. Proof that the individual has fulfilled any other requirements of licensure
15as prescribed by the board.
SB297,22,20 16(5) Board notification requirement. An individual who is elected as a coroner,
17is appointed to fill a vacancy as a coroner, is appointed as a nonaccredited medical
18examiner, or is hired by a coroner or medical examiner to serve as a medicolegal
19investigation staff member shall, if he or she leaves his or her position as a coroner,
20medical examiner, or medicolegal investigation staff member, so inform the board.
SB297,22,22 21465.15 Penalty. Any person who violates s. 465.10 (1) (a) shall be fined not
22more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 90 days.
SB297,39 23Section 39. 979.01 (1m) of the statutes is renumbered 979.01 (1m) (a) and
24amended to read:
SB297,23,4
1979.01 (1m) (a) The Except as provided in par. (b), the coroner or medical
2examiner receiving notification under sub. (1) or (1g) shall immediately, within a
3reasonable time after receiving notice of the death,
notify the district attorney for his
4or her county of the death
.
SB297,40 5Section 40. 979.01 (1m) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB297,23,86 979.01 (1m) (b) Except as provided in s. 979.04 (2), the coroner or medical
7examiner is not required to notify the district attorney of any deaths for which the
8district attorney, in writing, waives notice.
SB297,41 9Section 41. 979.01 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:
SB297,23,1110 979.01 (1p) A coroner or medical examiner who receives notice of a death under
11sub. (1), or his or her designee, shall notify the deceased's next of kin of the death.
SB297,42 12Section 42. 979.01 (1r) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB297,23,1713 979.01 (1r) If the coroner or medical examiner is notified of a death under sub.
14(1) or (1g) and determines that his or her notification of the death was not required
15under sub. (1) or (1g),
the discovery of human remains under this section and
16determines that the human remains have no forensic significance,
he or she shall
17notify the director of the historical society under s. 157.70 (3).
SB297,43 18Section 43. 979.01 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 979.105 and amended to
19read:
SB297,24,8 20979.105 Authorization to embalm a body. No person may embalm or
21perform an autopsy on
the body of any person who has died under any of the
22circumstances listed in this section or on the body of
any person whose death has
23been
must be reported under s. 948.23 (1) (b) unless the person obtains or 979.01 (1)
24without
the written authorization of the coroner or medical examiner of the county
25in which the injury or cause of death occurred. Such authorization shall be issued

1by the
An authorization under this section shall include information necessary to
2identify the deceased, the date and place of death, and the name of the funeral
3director or person acting in place of the funeral director and shall specify that the
4authorization does not override the wishes of the next of kin of the deceased with
5respect to disposition of the body. The
coroner or a deputy or a medical examiner, or
6his or her designee, shall issue an authorization under this section
within 12 hours
7after notification of the reportable death, or as soon thereafter as possible in the
8event of unexplained, unusual or suspicious circumstances.
SB297,44 9Section 44. 979.025 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB297,24,2110 979.025 (2) Inmate confined in an institution in another state. If an
11individual dies while he or she is in the legal custody of the department and confined
12to a correctional facility in another state under a contract under s. 301.07, 301.21,
13or 302.25, the department shall have an autopsy and any other appropriate
14diagnostic procedure
performed by an appropriate authority in the other state or by
15the coroner or medical examiner of the county in which the circuit court is located
16that sentenced the individual to the custody of the department. If the coroner or
17medical examiner who performs the autopsy or other diagnostic procedure in this
18state determines that the individual's death may have been the result of any of the
19situations that would permit the district attorney to order an inquest under s. 979.04
20(1), the coroner or medical examiner shall forward the results of the autopsy or other
21diagnostic procedure
to the appropriate authority in the other state.
SB297,45 22Section 45. 979.025 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB297,24,2523 979.025 (3) Costs of an autopsy and diagnostic procedure. The costs of an
24autopsy or other diagnostic procedure performed under sub. (1) or (2) shall be paid
25by the department.
SB297,46
1Section 46. 979.027 of the statutes is created to read:
SB297,25,10 2979.027 Disinterment for autopsy or other diagnostic procedure. The
3district attorney may move the circuit court for the county in which a body is buried
4for an order disinterring the body for the purpose of conducting an autopsy or other
5diagnostic procedures. The order shall be granted by the circuit court upon a
6reasonable showing that any of the criteria specified in s. 979.04 (1) exists. The clerk
7of the circuit court shall send a copy of the order to the coroner or medical examiner
8in the county in which the body is buried. Upon receipt of the order, the coroner or
9medical examiner shall issue a permit for disinterment and reinterment under s.
1069.18 (4) (c).
SB297,47 11Section 47. 979.036 of the statutes is created to read:
SB297,25,19 12979.036 Handling of personal property of deceased. (1) Each coroner or
13medical examiner shall keep an inventory of any money or other property that the
14coroner or medical examiner takes from a death scene or from a deceased and does
15not immediately provide to a law enforcement agency as evidence. The coroner or
16medical examiner shall release any such property, other than prescription
17medication, that belonged to the deceased to a representative of the deceased unless
18the property is needed as evidence or unless a court has issued an order to hold the
19property for payment of fees associated with the disposal of the body.
SB297,26,5 20(2) If the coroner or medical examiner takes prescription medications from a
21death scene or from the body of a deceased, the coroner or medical examiner shall list
22them on an inventory sheet and sign the inventory sheet. If the coroner or medical
23examiner does not provide the prescription medications to a law enforcement agency
24as evidence, the coroner or medical examiner shall destroy them in accordance with
25applicable county evidence retention policies and appropriate standards for disposal

1of medications, except that the coroner or medical examiner shall donate those
2prescription medications that satisfy the requirements under s. 255.056 (3) to the
3drug repository program under s. 255.056 or to another similar drug repository
4program. The coroner or medical examiner shall indicate on the inventory sheet the
5disposition of the prescription medications.
SB297,48 6Section 48. 979.09 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB297,26,21 7979.09 Burial Disposition of an unidentified or unclaimed body. If any
8judge or circuit court commissioner conducts an inquest as to the death of a stranger
9or of a person whose identity is unknown or whose body is unclaimed or if the district
10attorney determines that no inquest into the death of such a person is necessary and
11the circuit judge has not ordered an inquest under s. 979.04 (2),
a coroner or medical
12examiner has custody of an unidentified or unclaimed body of an individual whose
13death was investigated under s. 979.01, and the coroner or medical examiner has
14made reasonable efforts to identify the body or locate a representative of the
15deceased,
the coroner or medical examiner shall cause the body to be decently buried
16or cremated and shall certify to all the charges incurred in taking any inquest by him
17or her and to
the expenses of burial or cremation of the dead body. The charges and
18expenses shall be audited by the county board of the proper county and paid out of
19the county treasury
with funds other than funds appropriated for the operation of
20the coroner's or medical examiner's office. The immunity provisions under s. 157.02
21(2m) (b) and (c) apply to a coroner's or medical examiner's actions under this section
.
SB297,49 22Section 49. 979.10 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB297,27,223 979.10 (1) (a) (intro.) No person may cremate the corpse body of a deceased
24person within 48 hours after the pronouncement of death, or the discovery of the

1death, of the deceased person
unless the death was caused by a contagious or
2infectious disease. and one of the following conditions applies:
SB297,27,4 3(ag) No person may cremate a corpse body unless the person has received a
4cremation permit from one of the following:
SB297,50 5Section 50. 979.10 (1) (a) 1., 2. and 3. of the statutes are renumbered 979.10
6(1) (ag) 1., 2. and 3. and amended to read:
SB297,27,97 979.10 (1) (ag) 1. The coroner or medical examiner in the county where the
8death occurred was pronounced if the death occurred was pronounced in this state;
9and the death was not subject to an investigation under s. 979.01.
SB297,27,1310 2. The coroner or medical examiner in the county where the event which caused
11the death occurred if the death occurred in this state and
who investigated the death
12if the death was pronounced in this state and is the subject of to an investigation
13under s. 979.01; or.
SB297,27,1714 3. The coroner or medical examiner of the county where the corpse body is to
15be cremated if the death occurred was pronounced outside this state. A cremation
16permit issued under this subdivision may not be used in any county except the county
17in which the cremation permit is issued.
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