Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:505 Ratification Number:351 Act Number:330 Primary Sponsor:Rose Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Coroners, removal of dead body Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19940325 Computer Document Number:505 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19940420 Introduced Date:19930304 Date of Last Amendment:19940120 Last History Body:------ Last History Date:19940420 Last History Type:Act No. 330 Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Rose Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ --- ------------
505 ------ 19940420 Act No. 330
505 ------ 19940420 Signed by Governor
505 ------ 19940414 Ratified R 351
505 House 19940325 Read third time, enrolled for
ratification
505 House 19940324 Read second time, unanimous
consent for third reading on
next Legislative day
505 House 19940223 Committee Report: Favorable 27
505 House 19940126 Introduced, read first time, 27
referred to Committee
505 Senate 19940125 Read third time, sent to House
505 Senate 19940120 Amended, read second time,
ordered to third reading with
notice of general amendments
505 Senate 19940119 Committee Report: Favorable 11
with amendment
505 Senate 19930304 Introduced, read first time, 11
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A330, R351, S505)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 17-5-135 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTHORITY OF A COUNTY CORONER TO AUTHORIZE REMOVAL OF A DEAD BODY WHEN A COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A MEDICAL EXAMINER COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 17-5-300, RELATING TO UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF A DEAD BODY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE REMOVAL OF A BODY MUST BE OBTAINED FROM A COUNTY CORONER WHEN A COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A MEDICAL EXAMINER COMMISSION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Removal authorized
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 5, Title 17 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 17-5-135. In counties of the State which do not have a medical examiner commission as created by Section 17-5-220, a county coroner or his deputy may authorize the removal of a body pursuant to Section 17-5-300."
Removal authorized
SECTION 2. Section 17-5-300 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 17-5-300. (a) It is unlawful for any person to move or authorize removal of a body from the place where the body is found until the investigation is completed and such removal is authorized by the county medical examiner or the deputy medical examiner in charge.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to move or transport a body across the county line until the investigation of the case, the postmortem examination, or autopsy is complete and until removal of the body is authorized by the county medical examiner or one of his designated assistants.
Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than sixty days, or both.
(c) If a county does not have a medical examiner commission as created by Section 17-5-220, authorization for removal of a body must be obtained from the county coroner or a deputy county coroner.
(d) No coroner's jury shall be impaneled until the investigation is completed and copies of the reports of the county medical examiner and peace officer in charge are received by the coroner. The jury is not required to view the body."
Time effective
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 20th day of April, 1994.