AN ACT relating to deceased persons.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2505
Page 1 of 1
XXXX 3/3/2026 10:35 AM Jacketed
AN ACT relating to deceased persons. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 72.425 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) In the event the death of a person is not a coroner's case, consent to an autopsy shall 4
be obtained from the decedent, by written consent, signed and acknowledged prior 5
to his or her death; or his or her sp ouse; or in the absence of a spouse, the next of 6
kin of the decedent; or in the absence of any of the above, the person who assumes 7
the responsibility to dispose of the body. 8
(2) The state medical examiner shall perform an autopsy on a decedent when the 9
death of the person is not a coroner's case if a request is made by written consent 10
by the decedent's spouse; or in the absence of a spouse, the next of kin of the 11
decedent; or in the absence of any of the above, the person who assumes the 12
responsibility to dispose of the body. 13
Section 2. KRS 72.460 is amended to read as follows: 14
(1) The cost of autopsies shall be paid for by the fiscal court; provided, however, that 15
the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Office of the Kent ucky State Medical 16
Examiner, may contract with pathologists and toxicologists and chemists and pay 17
for such autopsies within the budgetary limitations of funds appropriated by the 18
General Assembly for this purpose. 19
(2) The cost of an autopsy performed in accordance with subsection (2) of Section 1 20
of this Act shall be paid by the person making the written request for the autopsy. 21