Coroner appointment

AN ACT Relating to saving taxpayer money by requiring coroners to 1
be appointed rather than elected; amending RCW 36.16.030, 43.101.480, 2
36.16.050, 36.17.020, and 36.24.205; creating a new section; and 3
declaring an emergency. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that county coroners 6
occupy positions of significant public importance. By investigating 7
unexpected deaths, coroners provide important public safety and 8
public health services. Technical skill, and medical and legal 9
investigative abilities are critical to perform this function. 10
Coroner is not a political position, yet most counties are required 11
to hold coroner elections.12
Many coroners or medical examiners in the state are already 13
appointed and serving successfully. Counties with less than 40,000 14
may appoint a coroner in lieu of electing a coroner, while those with 15
more than 250,000 may appoint a medical examiner. Having all 16
counties, including those in between those thresholds, appoint rather 17
than elect a coroner will reduce taxpayer costs by removing an 18
unnecessary elected office. Therefore, in order to better steward 19
public funds, the legislature finds that coroners throughout the 20
state should be appointed rather than elected. 21
H-2471.1
HOUSE BILL 2094
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Dufault, Corry, Schmidt, Leavitt, Walen, Bronoske,
Wylie, Graham, Salahuddin, and Bernbaum
Prefiled 12/02/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Local Government.
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Sec. 2. RCW 36.16.030 and 2021 c 127 s 4 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
(1) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, in every county 3
there shall be elected from among the qualified voters of the county 4
a county assessor, a county auditor, a county clerk, ((a county 5
coroner,)) three county commissioners, a county prosecuting attorney, 6
a county sheriff, and a county treasurer ((, except that in each 7
county with a population of less than forty thousand the county 8
legislative authority may determine that no coroner shall be elected 9
and instead)). A noncharter county may have five county commissioners 10
as provided in RCW 36.32.010 and 36.32.055 through 36.32.0556.11
(2) Each county legislative authority must appoint a coroner. If 12
a county has an elected coroner as of the effective date of this 13
section, the elected coroner may continue in office until the 14
coroner's term of office expires, at which time the county 15
legislative authority must appoint a coroner. In a county with a 16
population of ((two hundred fifty thousand )) $250,000 or more, the 17
county legislative authority may replace the office of coroner with a 18
medical examiner system and appoint a medical examiner as specified 19
in RCW 36.24.190. Any county may enter into an interlocal agreement 20
under chapter 39.34 RCW with an adjoining county for the provision of 21
coroner or medical examiner services. ((A noncharter county may have 22
five county commissioners as provided in RCW 36.32.010 and 36.32.055 23
through 36.32.0558.))24
Sec. 3. RCW 43.101.480 and 2021 c 127 s 3 are each amended to 25
read as follows: 26
(1)(a) All ((elected coroners, appointed )) coroners, persons 27
serving as coroners, medical examiners, and all other full-time 28
medicolegal investigative personnel employed by a county coroner's or 29
medical examiner's office must successfully complete medicolegal 30
forensic investigation training through the medicolegal training 31
academy program within 12 months of being ((elected,)) appointed((,)) 32
or employed unless otherwise exempted by the commission. This section 33
does not apply to elected prosecutors who are coroners in their 34
counties. 35
(b) All part-time medicolegal investigative personnel employed by 36
a county coroner's or medical examiner's office must successfully 37
complete medicolegal forensic investigation training through the 38
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medicolegal training academy program within 18 months of being 1
employed unless otherwise exempted by the commission.2
(2) The commission, in conjunction with the Washington 3
association of coroners and medical examiners and a practicing 4
physician selected by the commission, shall develop the medicolegal 5
forensic investigation training curriculum and adopt the standards 6
for the medicolegal training academy and any exemption from the 7
requirement to complete the medicolegal forensic investigation 8
training. The commission shall exempt from this requirement any 9
coroner, medical examiner, or medicolegal investigative personnel who 10
has obtained training comparable to the medicolegal forensic 11
investigation training by virtue of educational or professional 12
training or experience. 13
(3) The commission must certify successful completion of the 14
medicolegal forensic investigation training or exemption from the 15
medicolegal training requirement within 60 days from the receipt of 16
proof of completion or request for exemption. 17
(4) The medicolegal forensic investigation training required 18
under this section must: 19
(a) Meet the recommendations of the national commission on 20
forensic science for certification and accreditation; and21
(b) Satisfy the requirements for training on the subject of 22
sudden, unexplained child death including, but not limited to, sudden 23
infant death syndrome developed pursuant to RCW 43.103.100 and 24
missing persons protocols pursuant to RCW 43.103.110.25
(5) Certification under this section is a condition of continued 26
employment in a coroner's or medical examiner's office.27
(6) A county in which a coroner, person serving as coroner, 28
medical examiner, or other medicolegal investigative employee, who 29
has not otherwise been exempted by the commission, is not certified 30
within 12 months of being elected, appointed, or employed as required 31
by this section, may have its reimbursement from the death 32
investigations account reduced as provided under RCW 68.50.104 until 33
the office is in compliance with all requirements under this section.34
Sec. 4. RCW 36.16.050 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 26 s 5 are each 35
amended to read as follows: 36
Every county official before he or she enters upon the duties of 37
his or her office shall furnish a bond conditioned that he or she 38
will faithfully perform the duties of his or her office and account 39
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for and pay over all money which may come into his or her hands by 1
virtue of his or her office, and that he or she, or his or her 2
executors or administrators, will deliver to his or her successor 3
safe and undefaced all books, records, papers, seals, equipment, and 4
furniture belonging to his or her office. Bonds of elective county 5
officers shall be as follows: 6
(1) Assessor: Amount to be fixed and sureties to be approved by 7
proper county legislative authority; 8
(2) Auditor: Amount to be fixed at not less than ((ten thousand 9
dollars)) $10,000 and sureties to be approved by the proper county 10
legislative authority; 11
(3) Clerk: Amount to be fixed in a penal sum not less than double 12
the amount of money liable to come into his or her hands and sureties 13
to be approved by the judge or a majority of the judges presiding 14
over the court of which he or she is clerk: PROVIDED, That the 15
maximum bond fixed for the clerk shall not exceed in amount that 16
required for the treasurer in the same county; 17
(4) ((Coroner: Amount to be fixed at not less than five thousand 18
dollars with sureties to be approved by the proper county legislative 19
authority;20
(5))) Members of the proper county legislative authority: 21
Sureties to be approved by the county clerk and the amounts to be:22
(a) In each county with a population of ((one hundred twenty-five 23
thousand)) 125,000 or more, ((twenty-five thousand dollars)) $25,000;24
(b) In each county with a population of from ((seventy thousand)) 25
70,000 to less than ((one hundred twenty-five thousand )) 125,000, 26
((twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars)) $22,500;27
(c) In each county with a population of from ((forty thousand )) 28
40,000 to less than ((seventy thousand )) 70,000, ((twenty thousand 29
dollars)) $20,000; 30
(d) In each county with a population of from ((eighteen 31
thousand)) 18,000 to less than ((forty thousand )) 40,000, ((fifteen 32
thousand dollars)) $15,000; 33
(e) In each county with a population of from ((twelve thousand)) 34
12,000 to less than ((eighteen thousand )) 18,000, ((ten thousand 35
dollars)) $10,000; 36
(f) In each county with a population of from ((eight thousand )) 37
8,000 to less than ((twelve thousand)) 12,000, ((seven thousand five 38
hundred dollars)) $7,500; 39
(g) In all other counties, ((five thousand dollars)) $5,000;40
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(((6))) (5) Prosecuting attorney: In the amount of ((five 1
thousand dollars)) $5,000 with sureties to be approved by the proper 2
county legislative authority; 3
(((7))) (6) Sheriff: Amount to be fixed and bond approved by the 4
proper county legislative authority at not less than ((five 5
thousand)) $5,000 nor more than ((fifty thousand dollars )) $50,000; 6
surety to be a surety company authorized to do business in this 7
state; 8
(((8))) (7) Treasurer: Sureties to be approved by the proper 9
county legislative authority and the amounts to be fixed by the 10
proper county legislative authority at double the amount liable to 11
come into the treasurer's hands during his or her term, the maximum 12
amount of the bond, however, not to exceed: 13
(a) In each county with a population of ((two hundred ten 14
thousand)) 210,000 or more, ((two hundred fifty thousand dollars )) 15
$250,000; 16
(b) In each county with a population of from ((one hundred 17
twenty-five thousand )) 125,000 to less than ((two hundred ten 18
thousand)) 210,000, ((two hundred thousand dollars)) $200,000;19
(c) In each county with a population of from ((eighteen 20
thousand)) 18,000 to less than ((one hundred twenty-five thousand )) 21
125,000, ((one hundred fifty thousand dollars)) $150,000;22
(d) In all other counties, ((one hundred thousand dollars )) 23
$100,000. 24
The treasurer's bond shall be conditioned that all moneys 25
received by him or her for the use of the county shall be paid as the 26
proper county legislative authority shall from time to time direct, 27
except where special provision is made by law for the payment of such 28
moneys, by order of any court, or otherwise, and for the faithful 29
discharge of his or her duties. 30
Bonds for other than elective officials, if deemed necessary by 31
the proper county legislative authority, shall be in such amount and 32
form as such legislative authority shall determine.33
In the approval of official bonds, the chair may act for the 34
county legislative authority if it is not in session.35
Sec. 5. RCW 36.17.020 and 2021 c 127 s 6 are each amended to 36
read as follows: 37
The county legislative authority of each county or a county 38
commissioner or councilmember salary commission which conforms with 39
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RCW 36.17.024 is authorized to establish the salaries of coroners and 1
of the elected officials of the county. The state and county shall 2
contribute to the costs of the salary of the elected prosecuting 3
attorney as set forth in subsection (11) of this section. The annual 4
salary of a county elected official shall not be less than the 5
following: 6
(1) In each county with a population of ((one million)) 1,000,000 7
or more: Auditor, clerk, treasurer, sheriff, members of the county 8
legislative authority, and coroner, ((eighteen thousand dollars )) 9
$18,000; and assessor, ((nineteen thousand dollars)) $19,000;10
(2) In each county with a population of from ((two hundred ten 11
thousand)) 210,000 to less than one million: Auditor, ((seventeen 12
thousand six hundred dollars )) $17,600; clerk, ((seventeen thousand 13
six hundred dollars )) $17,600; treasurer, ((seventeen thousand six 14
hundred dollars )) $17,600; sheriff, ((nineteen thousand five hundred 15
dollars)) $19,500; assessor, ((seventeen thousand six hundred 16
dollars)) $17,600; members of the county legislative authority, 17
((nineteen thousand five hundred dollars )) $19,500; and coroner, 18
((seventeen thousand six hundred dollars)) $17,600;19
(3) In each county with a population of from ((one hundred 20
twenty-five thousand )) 125,000 to less than ((two hundred ten 21
thousand)) 210,000: Auditor, ((sixteen thousand dollars )) $16,000; 22
clerk, ((sixteen thousand dollars )) $16,000; treasurer, ((sixteen 23
thousand dollars)) $16,000; sheriff, ((seventeen thousand six hundred 24
dollars)) $17,600; assessor, ((sixteen thousand dollars )) $16,000; 25
members of the county legislative authority, ((seventeen thousand six 26
hundred dollars )) $17,600; and coroner, ((sixteen thousand dollars )) 27
$16,000; 28
(4) In each county with a population of from ((seventy thousand)) 29
70,000 to less than ((one hundred twenty-five thousand )) 125,000: 30
Auditor, ((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; clerk, 31
((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; treasurer, 32
((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; assessor, 33
((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; sheriff, 34
((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; members of the 35
county legislative authority, ((fourteen thousand nine hundred 36
dollars)) $14,900; and coroner, ((fourteen thousand nine hundred 37
dollars)) $14,900; 38
(5) In each county with a population of from ((forty thousand )) 39
40,000 to less than ((seventy thousand)) 70,000: Auditor, ((thirteen 40
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thousand eight hundred dollars )) $13,800; clerk, ((thirteen thousand 1
eight hundred dollars)) $13,800; treasurer, ((thirteen thousand eight 2
hundred dollars )) $13,800; assessor, ((thirteen thousand eight 3
hundred dollars)) $13,800; sheriff, ((thirteen thousand eight hundred 4
dollars)) $13,800; members of the county legislative authority, 5
((thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars )) $13,800; and coroner, 6
((thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars)) $13,800;7
(6) In each county with a population of from ((eighteen 8
thousand)) 18,000 to less than ((forty thousand )) 40,000: Auditor, 9
((twelve thousand one hundred dollars )) $12,100; clerk, ((twelve 10
thousand one hundred dollars )) $12,100; treasurer, ((twelve thousand 11
one hundred dollars)) $12,100; sheriff, ((twelve thousand one hundred 12
dollars)) $12,100; assessor, ((twelve thousand one hundred dollars )) 13
$12,100; members of the county legislative authority, ((eleven 14
thousand dollars )) $11,000; and coroner, $11,000 or on a per case 15
basis as determined by the county legislative authority;16
(7) In each county with a population of from ((twelve thousand)) 17
12,000 to less than ((eighteen thousand )) 18,000: Auditor, ((ten 18
thousand one hundred dollars )) $10,100; clerk, ((ten thousand one 19
hundred dollars )) $10,100; treasurer, ((ten thousand one hundred 20
dollars)) $10,100; assessor, ((ten thousand one hundred dollars )) 21
$10,100; sheriff, ((eleven thousand two hundred dollars )) $11,200; 22
members of the county legislative authority, ((nine thousand four 23
hundred dollars)) $9,400; and coroner, $9,400 or on a per case basis 24
as determined by the county legislative authority;25
(8) In each county with a population of from ((eight thousand )) 26
8,000 to less than ((twelve thousand )) 12,000: Auditor, ((ten 27
thousand one hundred dollars )) $10,100; clerk, ((ten thousand one 28
hundred dollars )) $10,100; treasurer, ((ten thousand one hundred 29
dollars)) $10,100; assessor, ((ten thousand one hundred dollars )) 30
$10,100; sheriff, ((eleven thousand two hundred dollars )) $11,200; 31
members of the county legislative authority, ((seven thousand 32
dollars)) $7,000; and coroner, $7,000 or on a per case basis as 33
determined by the county legislative authority; 34
(9) In each county with a population of from ((five thousand )) 35
5,000 to less than ((eight thousand)) 8,000: Auditor, ((nine thousand 36
one hundred dollars )) $9,100; clerk, ((nine thousand one hundred 37
dollars)) $9,100; treasurer, ((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) 38
$9,100; assessor, ((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) $9,100; 39
sheriff, ((ten thousand five hundred dollars )) $10,500; members of 40
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the county legislative authority, ((six thousand five hundred 1
dollars)) $6,500; and coroner, $6,500 or on a per case basis as 2
determined by the county legislative authority; 3
(10) In each other county: Auditor, ((nine thousand one hundred 4
dollars)) $9,100; clerk, ((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) 5
$9,100; treasurer, ((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) $9,100; 6
sheriff, ((ten thousand five hundred dollars )) $10,500; assessor, 7
((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) $9,100; members of the county 8
legislative authority, ((six thousand five hundred dollars )) $6,500; 9
and coroner, $6,500 or on a per case basis as determined by the 10
county legislative authority; 11
(11) The state of Washington shall contribute an amount equal to 12
one-half the salary of a superior court judge towards the salary of 13
the elected prosecuting attorney. Upon receipt of the state 14
contribution, a county shall continue to contribute towards the 15
salary of the elected prosecuting attorney in an amount that equals 16
or exceeds that contributed by the county in 2008.17
Sec. 6. RCW 36.24.205 and 2021 c 127 s 1 are each amended to 18
read as follows: 19
Within 12 months of being ((elected or)) appointed to the office, 20
a coroner or medical examiner must have a certificate of completion 21
of medicolegal forensic investigation training that complies with the 22
standards adopted for the medicolegal training academy adopted by the 23
criminal justice training commission in conjunction with the 24
Washington association of coroners and medical examiners and a 25
practicing physician selected by the commission pursuant to RCW 26
43.101.480. This requirement does not apply to an elected prosecutor 27
acting as the ex officio coroner in a county. All medicolegal 28
investigative personnel employed by any coroner's or medical 29
examiner's office must complete medicolegal forensic investigation 30
training as required under RCW 43.101.480. A county in which the 31
coroner or county medical examiner has not obtained such 32
certification within 12 months of assuming office may have its 33
reimbursement from the death investigations account reduced as 34
provided under RCW 68.50.104. 35
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act is necessary for the immediate 36
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 37
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the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 1
effect immediately. 2
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