2010 Arkansas Code
Title 14 - Local Government
Subtitle 2 - County Government
Chapter 15 - Officers
Subchapter 3 - County Coroners
§ 14-15-307 - Coroner's Advisory Task Force -- Creation -- Powers and duties.

14-15-307. Coroner's Advisory Task Force -- Creation -- Powers and duties.

(a) (1) The Coroner's Advisory Task Force is created and shall consist of thirteen (13) members.

(2) The Governor shall appoint to the task force:

(A) (i) Six (6) members who are current county coroners, selected in a manner so that each of the four (4) congressional districts are represented by at least one (1) coroner.

(ii) Of the persons appointed under subdivision (a)(2)(A)(i) of this section:

(a) One (1) member shall be from a Class 1 county or a Class 2 county as defined by 14-14-1204(b);

(b) One (1) member shall be from a Class 3 county or a Class 4 county as defined by 14-14-1204(b);

(c) One (1) member shall be from a Class 5 county or a Class 6 county as defined by 14-14-1204(b); and

(d) One (1) member shall be from a Class 7 county as defined by 14-14-1204(b);

(B) One (1) member who is a representative of the funeral home industry;

(C) One (1) member who is a licensed attorney in Arkansas;

(D) One (1) member who is a licensed physician in Arkansas;

(E) The State Medical Examiner or his or her designee;

(F) One (1) member to represent the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association;

(G) The Director of the Department of Health or his or her designee; and

(H) One (1) member who is a consumer representative.

(3) If a vacancy occurs, the Governor shall appoint a replacement who represents the same constituency as the vacating member.

(4) Members shall elect a chair who shall serve for one (1) year.

(5) A majority of the members being present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(6) The task force shall meet as necessary to further the intent and purpose of this subchapter.

(7) The Department of Health shall provide office space and staff for the task force if funds are available.

(8) Members shall serve without pay but may receive expense reimbursement under 25-16-902 if funds are available.

(b) The task force shall develop standards and policy recommendations on certain issues, including without limitation the following:

(1) Treatment of a body during the course of a death investigation;

(2) The proper manner of choosing who is designated to remove a body from a death scene during the course of a death investigation and at the conclusion of a death investigation;

(3) The manner and timeliness of notification of next of kin of the deceased;

(4) Other standards and policy recommendations to ensure that all functions of the coroner are performed in a professional and ethical manner; and

(5) Recommendations to the 88th General Assembly for improvement of laws regarding the duties of a coroner, including without limitation proper levels of compensation for the increasing responsibilities and level of training needed to conduct a proper, thorough, and up-to-date death investigation.

(c) The task force shall be abolished on April 30, 2011.