For Immediate Release: April 5, 2010

COFFEE’S MEDICAL EXAMINER BILL PASSES SENATE
Unanimous, bipartisan approval given to legislation

President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee (R-OKC) worked across party lines Monday to achieve legislation that will help repair Oklahoma’s Medical Examiner Office in dire need of reform.

Pro Tem Coffee, author of SB 738, said the passage of this legislation was crucial because too many Oklahoma families have experienced firsthand the lack of efficiency and continuity within our state’s ME office.

“Within the past few years, we have seen a dramatic downturn in our ME’s office,” said Coffee.

“Family members and friends have been required to wait or even forgo autopsies of their loved ones because of an unnecessary and overwhelming backlog at the ME’s office. My Senate colleagues and I recognized the critical situation we now find ourselves in and we’ve worked towards a sound solution with checks and balances that provides proper management and we hope prevents future problems.”

Some provisions in SB 738 include:

• Specifies that the Director of the Office of the State Medical Examiner shall be appointed by the Board and sets minimum requirements for the Director
• Requires the Chief Medical Examiner to be appointed by the Board
• Makes the Director directly responsible to the Board for the administration of the Office
• Specifies the responsibilities of the Director
• Directs the Office to be administered by the Director of the Office of the State Medical Examiner

Senate Bill 738 now goes to the full House for consideration.

For more information contact:
Sen. Coffee: 405-521-5636