Senate Bill No. by Senator McMath amends R.S. 13:5713(C) to enhance the requirements for coroners regarding autopsies of children who die unexpectedly. The bill expands the age range for mandatory autopsies from infants under one year to children under the age of fifteen. Additionally, it mandates that autopsies include a review of the child's immunization records from the state immunization registry, alongside the existing requirements for microscopic and toxicology studies. The coroner is also required to document any immunizations administered to the child within ninety days prior to their death.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if a coroner determines the cause of death to be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, or Sudden Death in the Young, they must report the case to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health's relevant registry. The coroner is prohibited from relying solely on statements from relatives or witnesses in lieu of an autopsy unless the circumstances warrant it for public safety, health, or welfare. This legislation is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB29 Original: 13:5713(C)