Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §3028, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1995, c. 272, §1, is further amended to read:

4. Possession of useful objects. Except as otherwise directed by the Attorney General, the Attorney General's deputies or assistants, the medical examiner, the person expressly authorized by the Chief Medical Examiner or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner may direct that a law enforcement officer at the scene make measurements, take photographs and take possession of all objects that in the opinion of the medical examiner, authorized person or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner may be useful in establishing the cause, manner and circumstances of death. For these same purposes, the medical examiner, authorized person or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner may direct that a law enforcement officer take possession of any objects or specimens that have been removed from the victim at the scene or elsewhere while under medical care.

Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §3028, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1995, c. 272, §2, is further amended to read:

5. Requests for objects. Any person having possession of any object or objects, as described in subsection 4, shall at the request of the medical examiner or the person expressly authorized by the Chief Medical Examiner give that object or objects to a law enforcement officer, to the medical examiner, to the authorized person or to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Medical personnel and institutions turning over any objects or specimens that have been removed from the victim while under medical care are immune from civil or criminal liability when complying with this subsection. Original written or recorded material that might express suicidal intent must be sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The Chief Medical Examiner may elect to accept copies in place of originals.

Sec. 6. 22 MRSA §3028, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 538, §8, is amended to read:

6. Examination of body. In all cases except those

requiring a report on a body already disposed of and not to be exhumed for examination, the medical examiner or the person expressly authorized by the Chief Medical Examiner shall conduct a thorough examination of the body.

Sec. 7. 22 MRSA §3028, sub-§7, as amended by PL 1995, c. 272, §3, is further amended to read:

7. Written report. Upon completing an investigation, the medical examiner or the person expressly authorized by the Chief Medical Examiner shall submit a written report of the investigator's findings to the Chief Medical Examiner on forms provided for that purpose. The medical examiner investigator shall retain one copy of the report.

If a medical examiner an investigator reports suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation to the Chief Medical Examiner, the Chief Medical Examiner, by reporting that information to the department on behalf of the medical examiner investigator, fulfills the medical examiner's mandatory reporting requirement under section 3477 or 4011.

SUMMARY

This bill allows the Chief Medical Examiner to expressly authorize a person to conduct the investigation and examination on any case reported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.