Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3022, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 1987, c. 329, §2, is amended to read:

1. Appointment and qualifications of the Chief Medical Examiner. There is created, in the Department of the Attorney General, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for the State. The Chief Medical Examiner shall be is appointed by the Governor for a term of 7 years and until his the Chief Medical Examiner's successor is appointed and qualified. The Chief Medical Examiner shall must possess a degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy, be licensed to practice in the State and be expert in the specialty of forensic pathology. Expertise in the specialty of forensic pathology may be established either by certification in forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology or by successful completion of an examination to test expertise in forensic pathology designed for the State by acknowledged experts in the field selected by the Governor. Any vacancy in the Office of Chief Medical Examiner shall must be filled by appointment by the Governor for a full term of 7 years. The Chief Medical Examiner may hire, subject to the Civil Service Law, necessary office and laboratory personnel to carry out the proper functioning of his the Chief Medical Examiner's office.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3022, sub-§8, as amended by PL 1991, c. 339, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

8.__Certain records confidential.__The following records in the possession or custody of any medical examiner or the Office of Chief Medical Examiner are not public records within the meaning of Title 1, section 402, subsection 3 and are confidential:

A.__Medical records relating to any medical examiner case;

B.__Law enforcement agency reports or records relating to any medical examiner case;

C.__Communications with the Department of the Attorney General relating to any medical examiner case;

D.__Communications with the office of any district attorney relating to any medical examiner case;

E.__Death certificates and any amendments made to the certificates, except for the information for which the medical examiner is responsible, as listed in section 2842, subsection 3, and not ordered withheld by the Attorney