This bill proposes updates to section 11-597.02 of the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding the disclosure of materials related to death investigations conducted by medical examiners. The bill introduces new language that specifies the types of reports, including toxicology, anthropology, neuropathology, and odontology reports, that are subject to disclosure restrictions. It maintains the current requirement that a judge must grant permission for disclosure after an in-camera review, balancing public interest with privacy concerns. Additionally, it emphasizes that requests for disclosure from certain family members of the decedent should be prioritized by the medical examiner's office and are subject to specific legal provisions.

The bill also modifies existing language by removing certain phrases and clarifying the rights of individuals who may access these materials. It replaces the term "their" with "its" when referring to law enforcement agencies and specifies that family members or legal representatives of the decedent are entitled to examine the materials. Furthermore, it clarifies that the section does not affect trial conduct or discovery processes and ensures that no legal action can be taken against the medical examiner or county for lawful disclosures made under this section.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-597.02