Coroners would notify families and consult about organ donation

A coroner would make a reasonable effort to tell certain family members they can request a private autopsy. For a person who dies in a motor vehicle accident, the coroner would contact a surviving spouse first, then an adult child, a parent, or a sibling if no earlier-listed relative is available. The family member must request the autopsy for the coroner to help arrange it. The family pays for the autopsy. The coroner would make a reasonable effort to give notice promptly after the death.

A coroner would immediately consult a donation organization about medical suitability when taking possession of a body that meets the stated conditions. This applies when a deceased person's body is under a coroner's authority. The person must have been identified as a donor and not already referred to a donation organization. The consultation would happen immediately upon the coroner taking possession of the body.

Law enforcement agencies that investigate motor vehicle accidents would adopt written procedures for determining and notifying next of kin. The procedures cover people found or pronounced dead at an accident scene and people with life-threatening injuries when an officer reasonably determines they probably cannot notify next of kin within the stated time. Officers would make a good faith effort to follow their agency's procedures. The text's timing condition for life-threatening injuries is unclear because the wording around the notification period may reflect an amendment whose formatting is missing.

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles would keep a database of emergency contacts, and criminal justice agency employees would try to notify the listed contact after a qualifying emergency. The notification effort applies when a person dies, is seriously injured, or is unconscious and unable to communicate after a motor vehicle accident or emergency. People could provide a contact when applying for or renewing a listed license, permit, or ID; an unemancipated applicant under 18 must include a parent, guardian, or custodian. A contact may be someone other than next of kin. Only bureau employees, criminal justice agencies, and county coroners for the stated purpose could access the database. It would not be a public record. The bureau, employee, and employing agency would not be liable if the employee cannot reach the contact. The employee would make a good faith effort to notify the contact within two hours of the accident or emergency.