The bill amends South Dakota law regarding the payment of autopsy costs, specifically addressing the responsibilities of the decedent's county of residence. It stipulates that the county of residence must reimburse the county where the autopsy occurred if the death took place in a different county and if the county of residence either requested the autopsy or is where the accident or injury leading to the death occurred. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a physician or surgeon appointed to perform the autopsy, or a coroner who is also a physician or surgeon, shall receive a reasonable fee for their services, which will be approved by the board of county commissioners and paid from the county's general fund.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a provision allowing the county that paid for the autopsy to recover the costs and any related expenses from the estate of a perpetrator who dies during the commission of a crime or commits suicide afterward. This change aims to ensure that the financial burden of autopsy costs is appropriately allocated and that counties can seek reimbursement in specific circumstances.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/14/2025: 23-14-9.2
Senate Local Government Engrossed, 01/29/2025: 23-14-9.2
Senate Engrossed, 02/05/2025: 23-14-9.2