1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 SENATE BILL 1516 By: Daniels
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to medicolegal investigations;
7 amending 63 O.S. 2021, Section 948.1, which relates
8 to fee schedule; increasing certain fee range;
8 clarifying applicability of certain fee; and
9 providing an effective date.
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11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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12 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 948.1, is
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13 amended to read as follows:
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14 Section 948.1. A. The Board of Medicolegal Investigations may
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15 establish a fee schedule for forensic services, permits and reports
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16 rendered to members of the public and other agencies.
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17 1. No fee schedule may be established or amended by the Board
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18 except during a regular legislative session. The Board shall comply
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19 with the Administrative Procedures Act for adoption of rules and
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20 establishing or amending any such fee schedule.
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21 2. Except as otherwise specified in this section, the Board
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22 shall charge fees only within the following ranges:
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23 a. permit for cremations that occur within the state:
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24 One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) Two Hundred Dollars
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 1 ($200.00) to Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) Two Hundred
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2 Seventy-five Dollars ($275.00),
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3 b. forensic science service: One Hundred Dollars
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4 ($100.00) to Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00),
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5 c. report copies: Ten Dollars ($10.00) for report of
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6 investigation, including toxicology, and Twenty
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7 Dollars ($20.00) for an autopsy report, including
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8 toxicology,
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9 d. x-rays: Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) each,
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10 e. microscopic slides, Hematoxylin, and Eosin (H&E): Ten
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11 Dollars ($10.00) each,
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12 f. special stains: Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) each, and
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13 g. photographs: Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per compact
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14 disc (CD) or other suitable digital storage media.
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15 3. Medical examiner permit certificates shall be required in
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16 cases investigated solely for the purpose of issuing a permit for
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17 transporting a body out of state.
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18 4. The Board of Medicolegal Investigations shall charge a fee
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19 for an investigation and issuance of an out-of-state shipment of
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20 transport permit for human remains whenever the Office of the Chief
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21 Medical Examiner has not been required to conduct an investigation
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22 of the death.
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 1 5. An out-of-state transport permit and cremation permit shall
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2 both be required for bodies containing body parts sent out of state
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3 or out of country, while remaining body parts remain unused.
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4 B. The Board shall base the fee schedule for forensic science
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5 services, permits and reports upon reasonable costs of review,
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6 investigation and forensic science service delivery; provided,
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7 however, the fee schedule shall be within the ranges specified in
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8 subsection A of this section. The Board shall continue a system of
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9 basic and continuing educational service and training for all
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10 personnel who render forensic science services in order to ensure
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11 uniform statewide application of the rules of the Board. The Board
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12 shall consider the reasonable costs associated with such training
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13 and continuing education in setting the forensic science service
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14 fees.
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15 C. The Board may exempt by rule any agency or class of
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16 individuals from the requirements of the fee schedule if the Board
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17 determines that the fees would cause an unreasonable economic
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18 hardship or would otherwise hinder or conflict with an agency’s
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19 responsibilities.
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20 D. All statutory fees currently in effect for permits or
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21 forensic science services administered by the Chief Medical Examiner
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22 and the Board of Medicolegal Investigations within the jurisdiction
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23 of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall remain in effect
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24 until such time as the Board acts to implement new schedules
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 1 pursuant to the provisions of this section and Section 948 of this
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2 title.
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3 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
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5 59-2-3206 DC 12/21/2023 9:20:43 AM
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