BILL REQ. #:  S-3433.1 

Read first time 01/26/2004.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to forensic pathology; amending RCW 43.103.030 and 43.79.445; and repealing RCW 28B.20.426.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.103.030 and 1999 c 40 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is created the Washington state forensic investigations council. The council shall oversee the bureau of forensic laboratory services and, in consultation with the chief of the Washington state patrol or the chief's designee, control the operation and establish policies of the bureau of forensic laboratory services. The council may also study and recommend cost-efficient improvements to the death investigation system in Washington and report its findings to the legislature.
     Further, the council shall((, jointly with the chairperson of the pathology department of the University of Washington's School of Medicine, or the chairperson's designee,)) oversee the state forensic ((pathology fellowship)) pathologist program, determine the budget for the program and set the ((fellow's)) state forensic pathologist's annual salary, and take those steps necessary to administer the program. The state forensic pathologist shall be available to the county coroners and medical examiners of the state without charge to perform autopsies, provide consultations, and testify in court.
     The forensic investigations council shall be actively involved in the preparation of the bureau of forensic laboratory services budget and shall approve the bureau of forensic laboratory services budget prior to its formal submission to the office of financial management pursuant to RCW 43.88.030.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.79.445 and 1997 c 454 s 901 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is established an account in the state treasury referred to as the "death investigations account" which shall exist for the purpose of receiving, holding, investing, and disbursing funds appropriated or provided in RCW 70.58.107 and any moneys appropriated or otherwise provided thereafter.
     Moneys in the death investigations account shall be disbursed by the state treasurer once every year on December 31 and at any other time determined by the treasurer. The treasurer shall make disbursements to: The state toxicology laboratory, counties for the cost of autopsies, the ((University of Washington)) forensic investigations council to fund the state forensic ((pathology fellowship)) pathologist program, the state patrol for providing partial funding for the state dental identification system, the criminal justice training commission for training county coroners, medical examiners and their staff, and the state forensic investigations council. Funds from the death investigations account may be appropriated during the 1997-99 biennium for the purposes of statewide child mortality reviews administered by the department of health.
     The ((University of Washington and the)) Washington state forensic investigations council shall ((jointly)) determine the yearly amount for the state forensic ((pathology fellowship)) pathologist program established by RCW ((28B.20.426)) 43.103.030.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   RCW 28B.20.426 (Fellowship program in forensic pathology -- Funding -- Recipient's services to county coroners) and 1991 c 176 s 3 & 1986 c 31 s 1 are each repealed.