SB1369 • 2026

county medical examiner; reports; access

SB1369 - county medical examiner; reports; access

Children Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Shawnna Bolick
Last action: 2026-01-28
Official status: Senate second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify an effective date; it only shows the last legislative action occurred on January 28, 2026.

SB1369: Rules for Accessing Medical Examiner Reports

This law requires a judge's private review before releasing autopsy reports and related images, except for specific groups like family members, lawyers in criminal cases, and government officials.

What This Bill Does

Requires a superior court judge to privately review death investigation materials before allowing public release.
Allows judges to decide if records should be shared by balancing state public record laws with other interests.
Lets specific people get reports without asking a judge, including family members, law enforcement, and attorneys in criminal cases.
Permits medical examiners to set rules for how these documents are copied or given out under the exceptions list.
Protects medical examiners from being sued when they share records following this new process.

Who It Names or Affects

County medical examiners, alternate examiners, and their staff
Family members of the deceased person (spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling) or legal representatives
Lawyers representing defendants in criminal cases
Government agencies like police departments, public health officers, and attorneys general

Terms To Know

In camera review: A private meeting where a judge looks at documents alone to decide if they can be shared.
Toxicology report: A document showing what drugs or poisons were found in the body during testing, which is now protected under this law.
Decedent: The person who has died and is being investigated by the medical examiner.

Limits and Unknowns

This law does not change how trials or legal discovery processes work under existing court rules.
Requests from family members must still follow other state laws about public records fees and procedures (Section 39-121.01, Subsection E).
The effective date of this bill is not listed in the provided text.

Bill History

2026-01-28 Senate
Senate second read
2026-01-27 Senate
Senate Rules: None
2026-01-27 Senate
Senate Government: None
2026-01-27 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1369 - county medical examiner; reports; access

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1369 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
county medical examiner; reports; access

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1369

Introduced by

Senator
Bolick

AN
ACT

amending section 11-597.02, arizona
revised statutes; relating to the county medical examiner.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 11-597.02, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
11-597.02.

Autopsy reports; photographs, digital images, x-rays and
video recordings;� in camera review; exceptions; procedures; immunity

A.
Notwithstanding title
39, chapter 1,
reports, including toxicology, anthropology,
neuropathology and odontology reports,
photographs, digital images, x-rays
and video recordings of human remains that are created by a medical examiner,
alternate medical examiner or their employees or agents during a death
investigation that is conducted pursuant to this chapter may not be disclosed
by a medical examiner, alternate medical examiner or their employees or agents
unless a judge of the superior court grants disclosure of all or part of the
materials after reviewing the materials in camera.� The judge of the superior
court shall balance the interests under the public records laws of this state
to determine whether to order disclosure of all or part of the materials.� A
person that seeks disclosure of the materials described in this section may
file a petition in the superior court of the county in which the death
investigation occurred for an in camera review of the materials.

B. Notwithstanding
the provisions of

subsection A of this section, the following persons may examine and obtain the
materials described in subsection A of this section:

1. The county attorney, attorney general or other
law enforcement agency having jurisdiction, as necessary for the performance of

their
its
duties.

2. The surviving spouse, child, parent, legal
guardian, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of the decedent or
their
the person's
legal representative or designated
agent.

The office of the medical examiner shall
prioritize a request to examine and obtain the materials described in
subsection A of this section that is made pursuant to this paragraph.� A
request that is made pursuant to this paragraph is subject to section 39-121.01,
subsection E.

3. A personal representative of the decedent's
estate or a person designated by the decedent before death.

4. Federal, state or local governmental authorities,
including public health officers, as necessary for the performance of their
duties.

5. The attending physician or nurse practitioner.

6. A medical or scientific body or university or
other educational institution for educational or research purposes, provided
that the materials used do not reveal the decedent's identity.

7. An attorney for a defendant or petitioner in any
criminal or postconviction proceeding for purposes of assisting representation
in that proceeding.

C.
Nothing in
This section
shall
does not
affect the conduct of
trials or the discovery process as provided by law or court rule.

D. The medical examiner or alternate medical
examiner may prescribe procedures for the issuance of materials pursuant to
subsection B of this section, including reproduction fees.

E. A cause of action may not arise against the
county medical examiner, alternate medical examiner or their employees or
agents, or the county for lawfully disclosing a death investigation
report, including a toxicology, anthropology, neuropathology or
ODONTOLOGY report, or
photograph, digital image, x-ray or video
recording pursuant to this section.
END_STATUTE