Albany County Proposal 1: Replace elected coroners with an appointed medical examiner

Official plain English statement

The title of the local law is A Local Law of the County of Albany, New York, Amending the Albany County Charter and Local Law No. 8 for 1993 as Amended to Provide for an Office of Medical Examiner. The purpose and effect of this Local Law are: (1) To amend the Albany County Charter and Local Law No. 8 for 1993 by repealing Article 19 in its entirety to remove Coroners and inserting language in Article 9 of the Charter, which creates an Office of Medical Examiner, a division of the Albany County Department of Health, which will be headed by a Chief Medical Examiner, who will appoint a Chief Deputy Medical Examiner – both of whom shall be physicians licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York – and who may further appoint such forensic investigators and deputy medical examiners as may be needed, as authorized by the Albany County Legislature. (2) The amendments to the Albany County Charter would: a. Repeal Article 19 of the Albany County Charter in its entirety to remove Coroners. b. Insert language in Article 9 to add Section 905 of the Albany County Charter, which creates an Office of Medical Examiner as a division of the Albany County Department of Health. c. Create the position of Chief Medical Examiner, who shall be appointed by the County Executive for a six-year term, subject to confirmation by the County Legislature. d. Require the Chief Medical Examiner to be and remain duly licensed and entitled to practice medicine in the State of New York, with an expertise in forensic pathology and such other qualifications as determined by the Commissioner of Health. e. Create the position of Chief Deputy Medical Examiner, who shall be appointed by the Chief Medical Examiner, and who shall also be a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York. f. Permit the Chief Deputy Medical Examiner to possess the powers and perform the duties of the Medical Examiner during his or her absence or inability to act. g. Permit the Chief Medical Examiner to appoint such forensic investigators and deputy medical examiners as may be authorized by the County Legislature, to assist the Chief Medical Examiner in the conduct of investigations and the discharge of his or her other duties and responsibilities; to conduct tests and examinations and furnish forensic, medical, investigative and technical services; and who shall possess such qualifications and perform such other duties as may be determined by the Chief Medical Examiner.