Arizona SB 1123: disruption; educational institution; concealed weapon

Bill Text

Chapter 0033 - 572R - S Ver of SB1123 

 Senate Engrossed

 medical examiners; 
 authorized persons

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 CHAPTER 33

 SENATE BILL 1123

AN 
ACT

Amending sections 11-594, 32-3207 
and 36-831, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to duties of the medical 
examiner.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 11-594, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE11-594. Powers and duties of county medical examiner

A. The county medical examiner or alternate medical 
examiner shall direct a death investigation and, on a determination that the 
circumstances of the death provide jurisdiction pursuant to section 11-593, 
subsection B, shall:

1. Take charge of the dead body.

2. Determine if an autopsy is required.

3. Certify to the cause and manner of death 
following completion of the death investigation, reduce 
the findings to writing and promptly make a full report on forms prescribed for 
that purpose.

4. Have subpoena authority for all documents, 
records and papers deemed useful in the death investigation.

5. Execute a death certificate provided by the state 
registrar of vital statistics indicating the cause and the manner of death for 
those bodies for which a death investigation has been conducted and 
jurisdiction is assumed.

6. Give approval for cremation or alkaline 
hydrolysis of a dead body after a death investigation and record the approval 
on the death certificate.

7. Notify the county attorney or other law 
enforcement authority when death is found to be from nonnatural causes.

8. Carry out the duties specified under section 28-668.

9. Carry out the duties specified under title 36, 
chapter 7, article 3.

10. Provide a blood sample from a deceased person 
for the purpose of communicable disease testing pursuant to sections 13-1210 
and 36-670 if the blood is available and the collection or release will 
not interfere with a medical examination, autopsy or certification of death.

11. Observe all policies adopted by the board of 
supervisors regarding conflicts of interest and disclosure of noncounty 
employment.

B. The county medical examiner or alternate medical 
examiner may:

1. Assign to a medical death investigator or other 
qualified personnel all aspects of a death investigation except performing 
autopsies.

2. Authorize forensic pathologists to perform 
examinations and autopsies. The medical examiner or alternate 
medical examiner may authorize medical students or residents and fellows in 
pathology training to perform autopsies under the supervision of a licensed 
physician who is board certified trained 
in forensic pathology, pursuant to procedures adopted by the county medical 
examiner or alternate medical examiner.� Authorization and the amount to be 
paid by the county for pathology services are subject to approval of the board 
of supervisors.

3. Authorize pathologist assistants to assist with 
performing autopsies under the direct supervision of a licensed physician who 
is board certified in forensic pathology, pursuant to procedures adopted by the 
county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner.� A pathologist assistant 
may not certify a cause of death or independently perform an autopsy.

4. Delegate any power, duty or function, whether 
ministerial or discretionary, vested by this chapter in the medical examiner or 
alternate medical examiner to a person meeting the qualifications prescribed in 
this chapter who is employed by or who has contracted with the county to 
provide death investigation services. The medical examiner or 
alternate medical examiner shall be responsible for the official acts of the 
person designated pursuant to this section and shall act under the name and 
authority of the medical examiner or alternate medical examiner.

5. Authorize the taking of organs and tissues as 
they prove to be usable for transplants, other treatment, therapy, education or 
research if all of the requirements of title 36, chapter 7, article 3 are 
met. The medical examiner or alternate medical examiner shall give 
this authorization within a time period that allows a medically viable 
donation.

6. Authorize licensed physicians, surgeons or 
trained technicians to remove parts of bodies provided they follow an 
established protocol approved by the medical examiner or alternate medical 
examiner.

7. Limit the removal of organs or tissues for 
transplants or other therapy or treatment if, based on a review of available 
medical and investigative information within a time that allows a medically 
viable donation, the medical examiner or alternate medical examiner makes an 
initial determination that their removal would interfere with a medical 
examination, autopsy or certification of death. Before making a 
final decision to limit the removal of organs, the medical examiner or alternate