What's happening
This bill allows a county to seek reimbursement from the decedent's county of residence for coroner or medical examiner fees.
Why it matters
May help reduce financial burdens on counties where deaths occur, especially those with large hospitals or trauma centers that serve many non-residents. This change allows these counties to recover costs from the decedent’s home county, which better aligns expenses with where people lived.
Could encourage better inter-county cooperation and planning for death investigations and post-mortem services. Counties might work together more closely on protocols for transporting and managing deceased individuals who lived elsewhere.
May impact county budgets and local taxpayers differently, depending on whether their county is a net provider or recipient of these services. Counties that frequently serve non-residents (urban or regional medical hubs) stand to benefit financially, while counties with more residents dying outside their borders may face new costs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Counties Reimburse Death Investigation Costs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Counties Reimbursed for Autopsy Fees
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Phil Steck
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1836
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the county law, in relation to reimbursement for coroner and medical examiner fees from the county where the decedent resided
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The county law is amended by adding a new section 680 to read as follows:
§ 680. Reimbursement. The county with jurisdiction over a decedent may seek reimbursement for services rendered and fees generated by the coroner, coroner's physician or medical examiner from the county in which the decedent resided.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03374-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the county law, in relation to reimbursement for coroner and medical examiner fees from the county where the decedent resided
Purpose or general idea of bill
To amend the county law, in relation to reimbursement for coroner and medical examiner fees from the county where the decedent resided.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. The county law is amended by adding a new section 679.
Section 2. A county with jurisdiction may seek reimbursement of fees generated by a coroner, medical examiner, or coroner's physician from the decedent's county of residence.
Justification
Presently, coroner, medical examiner and/or coroner physician fees of trauma victims are paid for by counties containing the regional hospital with a trauma unit; regardless of the county of residence of the trauma victim. For example, Albany County has a trauma unit at Albany Medical Center and most trauma victims are transported there for the entire region. Coroner and coroner physician's fees for services are thus absorbed by Albany County, even if the patient is a resident of another county. In 2012, Albany County Coroner's office had 56 non-resident cases and absorbed $61,426.26 in fees; in 2013 there were 35 cases and $51,386.75 in fees. Counties should be able to receive reimbursement of those fees from the decedent's county of residence, and not be punished financially for having a trauma hospital within the county.
Legislative history
2016 No same as in Senate, A5913 in Assembly, referred to Local Govern- ments
2017/18 No same as in Senate, A2501 in Assembly, referred to Local Governments
Fiscal implications
None to the State of New York.
Effective date
After 180 days.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.