Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires third-party medical examiners to determine the cause of death for police custody deaths in California.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any county where the offices of the sheriff and the coroner are combined to allow the sheriff-coroner to determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of death for any in-custody death (Sec. 1).

• Requires the cause and manner of death listed on the death certificate to match the cause and manner of death determined by the coroner, medical examiner, or private third-party medical examination provider (Sec. 1).

• Requires the county board of supervisors to annually select and enter into a service agreement or service agreements with medical examiners or independent coroner offices (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a private third-party medical examination provider that has entered into a service agreement with a county, during the term of that service agreement, from being contracted by the county or the sheriff-coroner to provide medical examination for any cases that do not involve in-custody deaths (Sec. 1).

• Requires that upon the determination of the circumstances, manner, and cause of death, the findings of the examination be delivered to the following (Sec. 1):

• The sheriff-coroner;

• The district attorney;

• The county health officer;

• The board of supervisors of the county in which the death occurred; and

• The decedent’s next of kin.

• Specifies that certain Sections of this Act take effect on January 1, 2027 (Sec. 1-2).

Full Bill Text