An Act to revise the payor of autopsy costs in certain circumstances.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 23-14-9.2 be AMENDED:

23-14-9.2. A physician or surgeon appointed under § 23-14-9.1, or the coroner if the coroner is a physician or surgeon providing services pursuant to § 23-14-9.1, shall receive a reasonable fee for his services to be ascertained and rendered, as approved by the board of county commissioners and paid. The board shall pay the fee out of the general fund of the county. If the coroner is a physician or surgeon, he may personally perform such autopsy; and he shall receive a reasonable fee for his services to be ascertained and approved by the board of county commissioners and paid out of the general fund of the county.

If the The decedent's county of residence must reimburse the county in which the autopsy occurred for the cost of the autopsy if:

(1) The death or autopsy occurs occurred in a county other than the decedents' decedent's county of residence, the county of residence shall reimburse the county where the autopsy occurred for the cost of the autopsy, provided that the; and

(2) The county of residence either requested requested the autopsy or is the site where the accident or injury leading to the death occurred.

If the decedent's death occurred as a result of a crime committed by the decedent, or following the decedent's commission of murder in the first degree, in violation of § 22-16-4, the board may require the estate of the decedent to pay the autopsy costs under this section.