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Bill Summary · HB 1031

HB 1031 — County coroners (Indiana) — Bill summary

Note: The bill text provided amends the Indiana Code and is presented as an introduced measure concerning county coroners and training requirements.

Main purpose

To revise coroners' training rules and enforcement — removing fixed minimum-hour mandates for training courses while (1) specifying required course content and approval processes, (2) making successful completion a prerequisite to conducting death investigations or signing death certificates, and (3) establishing enforcement, payroll withholding, and cost‑recovery rules when required training is not completed.

Key provisions and changes

  • Training design and content

    • The Coroners Training Board (in consultation with the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy) must create/offer:
    • an initial training course for coroners and deputy coroners that includes instruction on death investigation, crime scene handling, and evidence preservation (formerly specified to include at least 40 hours);
    • an annual update course covering recent developments in those same areas (formerly specified to include at least 8 hours).
    • The bill removes the statutory minimum-hour requirements but retains required subject-matter content.
    • Medical components of training must be approved by an American Board of Pathology–certified pathologist; crime‑scene/evidence instruction must be approved by a law‑ enforcement officer.
    • The Board issues certificates upon successful completion.

  • Timing and certification requirements

    • Coroners must complete the initial course within six months of taking office.
    • Deputy coroners must complete the initial course within one year of beginning employment with a coroner’s office.
    • Coroners and deputies must complete the annual update each year after they complete the initial course.

  • Enforcement and employment actions

    • A coroner or deputy who has not successfully completed the required initial training may not conduct death investigations or sign death certificates.
    • Conducting an investigation or signing a death certificate without completing required training is a Class B misdemeanor.
    • If an official does not present certification, the county executive (or city‑county council where applicable) may direct the county auditor to withhold the coroner’s pay until the training is completed, unless the governing body adopts a resolution finding unusual circumstances or reasonable progress.

  • Financial accountability

    • If a coroner or deputy begins a required course but fails to complete it within the required time, the county must reimburse the Coroners Training Board for the cost of the training.
    • The county may recover the reimbursed amount from the individual coroner or deputy.

Who is affected

  • Primary: county coroners and deputy coroners in Indiana (training, certification, and criminal exposure).
  • Counties and consolidated city‑counties: administrative responsibilities for payroll withholding, possible short‑term training cost exposure, and potential cost recovery from individuals.
  • Coroners Training Board, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, pathologists, and local law enforcement (involved in curriculum development and approvals).

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • Effective date specified in the introduced version: July 1, 2026 (if enacted).
  • The bill amends/creates provisions in Indiana Code sections relating to local government and criminal law (adds a new IC section cross‑referencing the criminal offense; revises IC 36‑2‑14 provisions governing coroner training and enforcement).

Potential impacts (administrative / fiscal)

  • Counties may face short‑term administrative costs if they must reimburse training board fees when individuals fail to complete courses; however, counties have authority to recoup those amounts from the individuals.
  • Removing fixed hour minimums gives the Coroners Training Board more flexibility to set training length and methods, while preserving content/approval safeguards.
  • Criminal penalties (Class B misdemeanor) introduce legal consequences for noncompliance.

If you want, I can extract exact statutory section numbers shown in the bill text, draft a side‑by‑side comparison with current law, or produce a one‑page handout for county officials summarizing required actions.

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

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