H 4569 General Bill, By J. Brown, M.O. Alexander, Anderson, Bailey, Breeland, 
A.W. Byrd, C.D. Chamblee, Cobb-Hunter, R.S. Corning, J.L.M. Cromer, R.C. Fulmer, 
H.M. Hallman, J.P. Harrelson, Haskins, J. Hines, Inabinett, Kelley, Kennedy, 
McMahand, J.H. Neal, Neilson, Richardson, Riser, Scott, J.S. Shissias, 
C.L. Sturkie, L.S. Whipper, Wilkes, Wilkins and D.A. Wright

Similar(S 846, S 968)
 A Bill to amend Section 17-5-290, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the disposition of dead bodies, so as to provide that unidentified
 bodies must be preserved at the Medical University of South Carolina or other
 suitable facility for a period of thirty days and to provide for the final
 disposition of the bodies.

   01/19/94  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-31
   01/19/94  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-31
   02/22/94  House  Tabled in committee

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 17-5-290, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF DEAD BODIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT UNIDENTIFIED BODIES MUST BE PRESERVED AT THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA OR OTHER SUITABLE FACILITY FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY DAYS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE BODIES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 17-5-290 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 17-5-290. After the postmortem examination or, autopsy, or inquest has been completed, the dead body shall must be released to the person legally entitled thereto to the body for burial. If no person claims the body, the county medical examiner or his the examiner's deputy shall notify the Anatomical Board of the State board created pursuant to Section 44-43-510 for the distribution and delivery of dead bodies. If the Anatomical Board shall board does not accept such the body, it shall must be turned over to the coroner of the county where death occurred for disposition as provided by law. If the deceased has an estate out of which burial expenses can be paid either in whole or in part, such the estate shall must be taken for such that purpose before any expense under this section is imposed upon any the county. If the dead body cannot be identified through reasonable efforts, the coroner shall forward the body to the Medical University of South Carolina or other suitable facility for preservation. At the expense of the county, the body must be preserved for a period of no less than thirty days, unless the body is identified within that time. If the body has not been identified at the end of the thirty-day period, the Medical University may retain possession of the body for its use and benefit or return the body to the coroner of the county where death occurred for disposition. Any other facility utilized by the coroner for storage of an unidentified body may dispose of the body as provided by law or return the body to the coroner of the county where death occurred for disposition as provided by law."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.