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HB 2616

CNTY CD-CORONER INVESTIGATIONS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Adam Niemerg

Illinois HB 2616 requires coroners to respond and conduct a preliminary investigation when abortion-related maternal or fetal deaths are suspected.

Referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2616

Summary — HB 2616 (packet contains two different bills with the same number)

Note: The materials provided include two distinct bills both labeled “HB 2616” from different jurisdictions. Below are concise, separate summaries so readers can identify which measure is relevant.

A. Illinois — HB 2616 (Counties Code: Coroner Investigations)

  • Jurisdiction & Sponsor: Illinois House (introduced 2/6/2025 by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg).
  • Purpose / Intent: Amend the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/3-3013) to explicitly require coroners to respond and conduct a preliminary investigation when they know or are informed a death is suspected to be a maternal or fetal death due to abortion.
  • Key provisions:
    • Adds maternal or fetal death due to abortion to the list of circumstances (alongside sudden, violent, suspicious, drug/alcohol-related deaths, etc.) that trigger a coroner’s duty to go to the scene, take charge of the body, and conduct a preliminary investigation.
    • Clarifies that coroners have existing authorities to take charge of bodies, move them (with consent) to a mortuary in-county, notify designated physicians for autopsy or further investigation, and collect specimens when appropriate.
    • The bill states an immediate effective date.
  • Who is affected:
    • County coroners and deputy coroners across Illinois.
    • Law enforcement and medical personnel who coordinate with coroners.
    • Healthcare providers and facilities involved in maternal/fetal care and any cases where an abortion is implicated.
  • Potential impacts and considerations:
    • Operational: May increase scene-response requirements and workload for coroners in counties where such cases occur.
    • Resource needs: Could require additional training, protocols, specimen-collection capacity, and interagency coordination (police, forensic labs, medical examiners).
    • Legal/forensic: Reinforces that abortion-related maternal or fetal deaths are subject to coroner review alongside other unexplained or suspicious deaths.
  • Legislative status (from packet): Readings and referrals noted (e.g., first reading 3/18/2025; referred to Insurance on 3/18/2025). Listed as effective immediately in text.

B. Arizona — HB 2616 (Public Service Scholarship Fund)

  • Jurisdiction & Sponsor: Arizona House (introduced 2/10/2025; text references Arizona Board of Regents).
  • Purpose / Intent: Create a Public Service Scholarship Fund to supplement federal post-service education awards for individuals who complete qualifying national service programs.
  • Key provisions:
    • Establishes the Public Service Scholarship Fund (monies from legislative appropriations and other sources) administered by the Arizona Board of Regents; monies exempt from lapse under A.R.S. §35‑190.
    • Board of Regents to award scholarships to students who: (1) complete a term of service in a federally supported national service program; (2) receive a federal post-service education award; and (3) use that federal award to attend an eligible in-state educational institution/program.
    • Scholarships match the recipient’s federal post-service education award amount, awarded first-come, first-served; recipients must be in good academic standing; scholarships must be used within three years of completing service; scholarship funds may only be used after federal award funds are spent.
    • Eligible institutions: Arizona Board of Regents universities and community colleges (per A.R.S. §15-1401).
    • Appropriation clause included but dollar amount left blank in the introduced text.
  • Who is affected:
    • Former national service participants who receive federal post-service education awards and enroll in eligible Arizona institutions.
    • Arizona Board of Regents (administration/implementation).
  • Legislative status: Introduced; appropriation amount not specified in text.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a side-by-side comparison of likely implementation impacts (staffing, budget, timelines) for the Illinois coroner change; or
- Draft a brief memo on questions counties or the Arizona Board of Regents should consider for implementation (training, funding, reporting).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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