Chapter 90 Oregon Laws 2005

AN ACT

HB 2370

Relating to persons presumed dead; amending ORS 146.045.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 146.045 is amended to read:

146.045. (1) After consultation with the State Medical Examiner Advisory Board, the State Medical Examiner shall appoint each Deputy State Medical Examiner.

(2) The State Medical Examiner shall:

(a) Appoint and discharge each district medical examiner as provided by ORS 146.065 (2).

(b) Designate those pathologists authorized to perform autopsies under ORS 146.117 (2).

(c) Approve those laboratories authorized to perform the analyses required under ORS 146.113 (2).

(3) The State Medical Examiner may:

(a) Assume control of a death investigation in cooperation with the district attorney.

(b) Order an autopsy in a death requiring investigation.

(c) Certify the cause and manner of a death requiring investigation.

(d) Amend a previously completed death certificate on a death requiring investigation.

(e) Order a body exhumed in a death requiring investigation.

(f) Designate a Deputy State Medical Examiner as Acting State Medical Examiner.

(g) After a reasonable and thorough investigation, complete and file a death certificate for a person whose body is not found.

(4) Distribution of moneys from the State Medical Examiner’s budget for partial reimbursement of each county’s autopsy expenditures shall be made subject to approval of the State Medical Examiner.

(5) Within 45 days of receipt of information that a person is missing at sea and presumed dead, the State Medical Examiner shall determine whether the information is credible and, if so, complete and file a death certificate for the person presumed dead. If the information is determined not to be credible, the State Medical Examiner may continue the death investigation.

Approved by the Governor May 25, 2005

Filed in the office of Secretary of State May 25, 2005

Effective date January 1, 2006

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