Arizona SB 1011: computer tampering; unauthorized human impersonation

Bill Text

SB1011 - 572R - S Ver 

 Senate Engrossed

 medical examiners; 
 sudden infant death

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 SENATE BILL 1011

AN 
ACT

amending section 11-597, arizona 
revised statutes; relating to the county medical examiner.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 11-597, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE11-597. Autopsies; reports; exemption from liability

A. The county medical examiner or alternate medical 
examiner shall conduct a death investigation to determine whether or not the 
public interest requires an external examination, autopsy or other special 
investigation.

B. An external examination or autopsy is not 
required for deaths due to natural diseases that occur during surgical or 
anesthetic procedures unless the medical examiner or alternate medical examiner 
determines that an external examination or autopsy is necessary.

C. In the determination of the need for an autopsy, 
the county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner may consider the 
request for an autopsy made by private persons or public 
officials. If the county attorney or a superior court judge of the 
county where the death occurred requests an autopsy, the county medical 
examiner shall perform the autopsy, or, in the case of an alternate medical 
examiner, an autopsy shall be performed by a forensic pathologist.

D. A forensic pathologist shall perform an autopsy 
in cases of sudden and unexplained infant death in accordance with protocols 
adopted by the director of the department of health services. If the 
medical examiner or forensic pathologist determines that the infant died of 
sudden infant death syndrome, the medical examiner or forensic pathologist 
shall notify the department of health services. The medical examiner 
or forensic pathologist may retain tissue samples, specimens and other 
biological materials for diagnostic purposes. In 
cases of a sudden and unexplained infant death, the medical examiner or 
forensic pathologist shall review the infant's immunization and vaccination 
history and any countermeasures that were administered in the ninety days 
before the infant's death.� The medical examiner or forensic pathologist shall 
report all sudden and unexplained infant deaths to a national case registry 
that records sudden unexpected infant deaths and sudden death in the young in 
accordance with the United States centers for disease control and prevention 
protocols.

E. If an autopsy is performed, a full record or 
report of the facts developed by the autopsy in the findings of the person 
performing the autopsy shall be properly made and filed in the office of the 
county medical examiner or the board of supervisors. If the person 
performing the autopsy determines that the report should be forwarded to the 
county where the death occurred or the county in which any injury contributing 
to or causing the death was sustained, the report shall be forwarded to the 
county attorney.

F. A county attorney may request and on request 
shall receive from the county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner a 
copy of the report on any autopsy performed.

G. The county medical examiner or alternate medical 
examiner may perform other tests deemed necessary to determine identity and the 
cause and manner of death and may retain tissues, specimens and other 
biological materials for subsequent examination.

H. When a death investigation, including an external 
examination, autopsy or other tests are performed by the county medical 
examiner, alternate medical examiner or a forensic pathologist, no cause of 
action shall lie against the physician or any other person for requesting, 
performing, participating in or determining the cause and manner of death or 
otherwise reporting the results from the external examination, death 
investigation, autopsy or other tests or for retaining specimens, tissues or 
other biological materials. END_STATUTE