SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 287 PRINTER'S NO. 3290
No. 294 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY CORNELL, MERRY, BUNT AND PISTELLA,
JANUARY 25, 1995
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, IN SENATE, MARCH 19, 1996
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), entitled,
2 as amended, "An act relating to counties of the second class
3 and second class A; amending, revising, consolidating and
4 changing the laws relating thereto," further providing for
5 expenses of county officers for attending certain meetings
6 AND FOR CORONER'S INVESTIGATIONS. <--
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 435(a) of the act of July 28, 1953
10 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the Second Class County Code,
11 amended October 5, 1990 (P.L.519, No.125), is amended and the
12 section is amended by adding subsections to read:
13 Section 435. Expenses of Attending; Members to be Paid by
14 County; Time Limit on Meetings.--(a) The actual expenses of all
15 authorized elected county officers attending the annual meetings
16 of their associations shall be paid by the several counties out
17 of the general county [funds] fund. Each of these officers,
18 except the county commissioners, [may be allowed for his] shall
19 be reimbursed for actual expenses [up to seventy-five dollars
1 ($75)] not to exceed one hundred ten dollars ($110) per day for
2 the number of days specified in subsection (b) of this section,
3 together with mileage going to and returning from such meeting[.
4 The expense allowance shall be paid] and the registration fee.
5 (a.1) The actual expenses of all authorized nonelected
6 county officers and employes attending the annual meetings of
7 their associations may be paid by the several counties out of
8 the county general fund. Each of these officers may be
9 reimbursed for actual expenses in an amount not to exceed one
10 hundred ten dollars ($110) per day for the number of days
11 specified in subsection (b) of this section, together with
12 mileage going to and returning from such meetings and the
13 registration fee.
14 (a.2) Every delegate attending the annual meeting shall
15 submit to the county an itemized account of expenses incurred at
16 the meeting. The county may authorize employes to be compensated
17 at their regular employe rate during their attendance at the
18 annual meeting. The actual expenses for elected officers shall,
19 and for nonelected officers may, be paid for the number of days
20 specified in subsection (b). In addition, elected county
21 officers shall receive, and nonelected county officers and
22 employes may receive, actual expenses not to exceed one hundred
23 ten dollars ($110) per day for each day not in excess of two in
24 going to and returning from such meeting.
25 * * *
26 SECTION 2. SECTION 1236 OF THE ACT, AMENDED DECEMBER 22, <--
27 1993 (P.L.529, NO.77), IS AMENDED TO READ:
28 SECTION 1236. CORONER'S INVESTIGATIONS.--(A) THE CORONER
29 HAVING A VIEW OF THE BODY SHALL INVESTIGATE THE FACTS AND
30 CIRCUMSTANCES CONCERNING DEATHS WHICH APPEAR TO HAVE HAPPENED
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1 WITHIN THE COUNTY, [AND IN ALL CASES WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL
2 SUSTAINS INJURIES IN ONE COUNTY AND IS TRANSPORTED FOR MEDICAL
3 TREATMENT TO A MEDICAL FACILITY IN ANOTHER COUNTY WHERE HE DIES
4 OR IS PRONOUNCED DEAD, THE CORONER OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE
5 INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED SHALL VIEW THE BODY AND INVESTIGATE THE
6 FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES CONCERNING THE DEATH] REGARDLESS WHERE
7 THE CAUSE THEREOF MAY HAVE OCCURRED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
8 DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT AN AUTOPSY SHOULD BE CONDUCTED OR AN
9 INQUEST THEREOF SHALL BE HAD, IN THE FOLLOWING CASES:
10 (1) SUDDEN DEATHS NOT CAUSED BY READILY RECOGNIZABLE DISEASE
11 OR WHEREIN THE CASE OF DEATH CANNOT BE PROPERLY CERTIFIED BY A
12 PHYSICIAN ON THE BASIS OF PRIOR (RECENT) MEDICAL ATTENDANCE;
13 (2) DEATHS OCCURRING UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES,
14 INCLUDING THOSE WHERE ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES
15 MAY HAVE HAD A DIRECT BEARING ON THE OUTCOME;
16 (3) DEATHS OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF VIOLENCE OR TRAUMA,
17 WHETHER APPARENTLY HOMICIDAL, SUICIDAL OR ACCIDENTAL (INCLUDING,
18 BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DUE TO MECHANICAL, THERMAL, CHEMICAL,
19 ELECTRICAL OR RADIATIONAL INJURY, DROWNING, CAVE-INS AND
20 SUBSIDENCES);
21 (4) ANY DEATH IN WHICH TRAUMA, CHEMICAL INJURY, DRUG
22 OVERDOSE OR REACTION TO DRUGS OR MEDICATION OR MEDICAL
23 TREATMENT, WAS A PRIMARY OR SECONDARY, DIRECT OR INDIRECT,
24 CONTRIBUTORY, AGGRAVATING OR PRECIPITATING CAUSE OF DEATH;
25 (5) OPERATIVE AND PERI-OPERATIVE DEATHS IN WHICH THE DEATH
26 IS NOT READILY EXPLAINABLE ON THE BASIS OF PRIOR DISEASE;
27 (6) ANY DEATH WHEREIN THE BODY IS UNIDENTIFIED OR UNCLAIMED;
28 (7) DEATHS KNOWN OR SUSPECTED AS DUE TO CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
29 AND CONSTITUTING A PUBLIC HAZARD;
30 (8) DEATHS OCCURRING IN PRISON, A PENAL INSTITUTION OR WHILE
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1 IN THE CUSTODY OF THE POLICE;
2 (9) DEATHS OF PERSONS WHOSE BODIES ARE TO BE CREMATED,
3 BURIED AT SEA OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF SO AS TO BE THEREAFTER
4 UNAVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION;
5 (10) SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME; AND
6 (11) STILLBIRTHS.
7 (B) THE PURPOSE OF THE INVESTIGATION SHALL BE TO DETERMINE
8 THE CAUSE OF ANY SUCH DEATH AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT
9 THERE IS SUFFICIENT REASON FOR THE CORONER TO BELIEVE THAT ANY
10 SUCH DEATH MAY HAVE RESULTED FROM CRIMINAL ACTS OR CRIMINAL
11 NEGLECT OF PERSONS OTHER THAN THE DECEASED.
12 (C) AS PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION, THE CORONER SHALL
13 DETERMINE THE IDENTITY OF THE DECEASED AND NOTIFY THE NEXT OF
14 KIN OF THE DECEASED.
15 Section 2 3. This act shall take effect immediately. <--
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