Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 36.24 RCW to read as follows:

In addition to any of its existing authorities, the coroner may, in the course of an active or ongoing death investigation, request that the superior court issue subpoenas for production of documents or other records and command each person to whom the subpoena is directed to produce and permit inspection and copying of documentary evidence or tangible things in the possession, custody, or control of that person at a specified time and place. A subpoena for production must substantively comply with the requirements of CR 45. A subpoena for production may be joined with a subpoena for testimony, or it may be issued separately."

EFFECT: Removes a sentence that provides that failure to comply with a subpoena issued by a superior court judge under this new section may be punished as authorized in another statute that confers the authority of a district court judge upon a coroner to punish disobedience of a coroner-issued subpoena.