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 end partisan elections for a nonpolitical 18
position and increase accountability over an important county 19
government function. Therefore, in order to better steward public 20
S-3529.3
SENATE BILL 6101
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators King, Saldaña, and Valdez
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
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funds, the legislature finds that coroners throughout the state 1
should be appointed rather than elected. 2
Sec. 2. RCW 36.16.030 and 2021 c 127 s 4 are each amended to 3
read as follows: 4
(1) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, in every county 5
there shall be elected from among the qualified voters of the county 6
a county assessor, a county auditor, a county clerk, ((a county 7
coroner,)) three county commissioners, a county prosecuting attorney, 8
a county sheriff, and a county treasurer ((, except that in each 9
county with a population of less than forty thousand the county 10
legislative authority may determine that no coroner shall be elected 11
and instead)). A noncharter county may have five county commissioners 12
as provided in RCW 36.32.010 and 36.32.055 through 36.32.0556.13
(2) Each county legislative authority must appoint a coroner. If 14
a county has an elected coroner as of the effective date of this 15
section, the elected coroner may continue in office until the 16
coroner's term of office expires, at which time the county 17
legislative authority must appoint a coroner. In a county with a 18
population of ((two hundred fifty thousand )) 250,000 or more, the 19
county legislative authority may replace the office of coroner with a 20
medical examiner system and appoint a medical examiner as specified 21
in RCW 36.24.190. Any county may enter into an interlocal agreement 22
under chapter 39.34 RCW with an adjoining county for the provision of 23
coroner or medical examiner services. ((A noncharter county may have 24
five county commissioners as provided in RCW 36.32.010 and 36.32.055 25
through 36.32.0558.))26
Sec. 3. RCW 43.101.480 and 2021 c 127 s 3 are each amended to 27
read as follows: 28
(1)(a) All ((elected coroners, appointed )) coroners, persons 29
serving as coroners, medical examiners, and all other full-time 30
medicolegal investigative personnel employed by a county coroner's or 31
medical examiner's office must successfully complete medicolegal 32
forensic investigation training through the medicolegal training 33
academy program within 12 months of being ((elected,)) appointed((,)) 34
or employed unless otherwise exempted by the commission. This section 35
does not apply to elected prosecutors who are coroners in their 36
counties. 37
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(b) All part-time medicolegal investigative personnel employed by 1
a county coroner's or medical examiner's office must successfully 2
complete medicolegal forensic investigation training through the 3
medicolegal training academy program within 18 months of being 4
employed unless otherwise exempted by the commission.5
(2) The commission, in conjunction with the Washington 6
association of coroners and medical examiners and a practicing 7
physician selected by the commission, shall develop the medicolegal 8
forensic investigation training curriculum and adopt the standards 9
for the medicolegal training academy and any exemption from the 10
requirement to complete the medicolegal forensic investigation 11
training. The commission shall exempt from this requirement any 12
coroner, medical examiner, or medicolegal investigative personnel who 13
has obtained training comparable to the medicolegal forensic 14
investigation training by virtue of educational or professional 15
training or experience. 16
(3) The commission must certify successful completion of the 17
medicolegal forensic investigation training or exemption from the 18
medicolegal training requirement within 60 days from the receipt of 19
proof of completion or request for exemption. 20
(4) The medicolegal forensic investigation training required 21
under this section must: 22
(a) Meet the recommendations of the national commission on 23
forensic science for certification and accreditation; and24
(b) Satisfy the requirements for training on the subject of 25
sudden, unexplained child death including, but not limited to, sudden 26
infant death syndrome developed pursuant to RCW 43.103.100 and 27
missing persons protocols pursuant to RCW 43.103.110.28
(5) Certification under this section is a condition of continued 29
employment in a coroner's or medical examiner's office.30
(6) A county in which a coroner, person serving as coroner, 31
medical examiner, or other medicolegal investigative employee, who 32
has not otherwise been exempted by the commission, is not certified 33
within 12 months of being elected, appointed, or employed as required 34
by this section, may have its reimbursement from the death 35
investigations account reduced as provided under RCW 68.50.104 until 36
the office is in compliance with all requirements under this section.37
Sec. 4. RCW 36.16.050 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 26 s 5 are each 38
amended to read as follows: 39
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Every county official before he or she enters upon the duties of 1
his or her office shall furnish a bond conditioned that he or she 2
will faithfully perform the duties of his or her office and account 3
for and pay over all money which may come into his or her hands by 4
virtue of his or her office, and that he or she, or his or her 5
executors or administrators, will deliver to his or her successor 6
safe and undefaced all books, records, papers, seals, equipment, and 7
furniture belonging to his or her office. Bonds of elective county 8
officers shall be as follows: 9
(1) Assessor: Amount to be fixed and sureties to be approved by 10
proper county legislative authority; 11
(2) Auditor: Amount to be fixed at not less than ((ten thousand 12
dollars)) $10,000 and sureties to be approved by the proper county 13
legislative authority; 14
(3) Clerk: Amount to be fixed in a penal sum not less than double 15
the amount of money liable to come into his or her hands and sureties 16
to be approved by the judge or a majority of the judges presiding 17
over the court of which he or she is clerk: PROVIDED, That the 18
maximum bond fixed for the clerk shall not exceed in amount that 19
required for the treasurer in the same county; 20
(4) ((Coroner: Amount to be fixed at not less than five thousand 21
dollars with sureties to be approved by the proper county legislative 22
authority;23
(5))) Members of the proper county legislative authority: 24
Sureties to be approved by the county clerk and the amounts to be:25
(a) In each county with a population of ((one hundred twenty-five 26
thousand)) 125,000 or more, ((twenty-five thousand dollars)) $25,000;27
(b) In each county with a population of from ((seventy thousand)) 28
70,000 to less than ((one hundred twenty-five thousand )) 125,000, 29
((twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars)) $22,500;30
(c) In each county with a population of from ((forty thousand )) 31
40,000 to less than ((seventy thousand )) 70,000, ((twenty thousand 32
dollars)) $20,000; 33
(d) In each county with a population of from ((eighteen 34
thousand)) 18,000 to less than ((forty thousand )) 40,000, ((fifteen 35
thousand dollars)) $15,000; 36
(e) In each county with a population of from ((twelve thousand)) 37
12,000 to less than ((eighteen thousand )) 18,000, ((ten thousand 38
dollars)) $10,000; 39
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(f) In each county with a population of from ((eight thousand )) 1
8,000 to less than ((twelve thousand)) 12,000, ((seven thousand five 2
hundred dollars)) $7,500; 3
(g) In all other counties, ((five thousand dollars)) $5,000;4
(((6))) (5) Prosecuting attorney: In the amount of ((five 5
thousand dollars)) $5,000 with sureties to be approved by the proper 6
county legislative authority; 7
(((7))) (6) Sheriff: Amount to be fixed and bond approved by the 8
proper county legislative authority at not less than ((five 9
thousand)) $5,000 nor more than ((fifty thousand dollars )) $50,000; 10
surety to be a surety company authorized to do business in this 11
state; 12
(((8))) (7) Treasurer: Sureties to be approved by the proper 13
county legislative authority and the amounts to be fixed by the 14
proper county legislative authority at double the amount liable to 15
come into the treasurer's hands during his or her term, the maximum 16
amount of the bond, however, not to exceed: 17
(a) In each county with a population of ((two hundred ten 18
thousand)) 210,000 or more, ((two hundred fifty thousand dollars )) 19
$250,000; 20
(b) In each county with a population of from ((one hundred 21
twenty-five thousand )) 125,000 to less than ((two hundred ten 22
thousand)) 210,000, ((two hundred thousand dollars)) $200,000;23
(c) In each county with a population of from ((eighteen 24
thousand)) 18,000 to less than ((one hundred twenty-five thousand )) 25
125,000, ((one hundred fifty thousand dollars)) $150,000;26
(d) In all other counties, ((one hundred thousand dollars )) 27
$100,000. 28
The treasurer's bond shall be conditioned that all moneys 29
received by him or her for the use of the county shall be paid as the 30
proper county legislative authority shall from time to time direct, 31
except where special provision is made by law for the payment of such 32
moneys, by order of any court, or otherwise, and for the faithful 33
discharge of his or her duties. 34
Bonds for other than elective officials, if deemed necessary by 35
the proper county legislative authority, shall be in such amount and 36
form as such legislative authority shall determine.37
In the approval of official bonds, the chair may act for the 38
county legislative authority if it is not in session.39
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Sec. 5. RCW 36.17.020 and 2021 c 127 s 6 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
The county legislative authority of each county or a county 3
commissioner or councilmember salary commission which conforms with 4
RCW 36.17.024 is authorized to establish the salaries of coroners and 5
of the elected officials of the county. The state and county shall 6
contribute to the costs of the salary of the elected prosecuting 7
attorney as set forth in subsection (11) of this section. The annual 8
salary of a county elected official shall not be less than the 9
following: 10
(1) In each county with a population of ((one million)) 1,000,000 11
or more: Auditor, clerk, treasurer, sheriff, members of the county 12
legislative authority, and coroner, ((eighteen thousand dollars )) 13
$18,000; and assessor, ((nineteen thousand dollars)) $19,000;14
(2) In each county with a population of from ((two hundred ten 15
thousand)) 210,000 to less than one million: Auditor, ((seventeen 16
thousand six hundred dollars )) $17,600; clerk, ((seventeen thousand 17
six hundred dollars )) $17,600; treasurer, ((seventeen thousand six 18
hundred dollars )) $17,600; sheriff, ((nineteen thousand five hundred 19
dollars)) $19,500; assessor, ((seventeen thousand six hundred 20
dollars)) $17,600; members of the county legislative authority, 21
((nineteen thousand five hundred dollars )) $19,500; and coroner, 22
((seventeen thousand six hundred dollars)) $17,600;23
(3) In each county with a population of from ((one hundred 24
twenty-five thousand )) 125,000 to less than ((two hundred ten 25
thousand)) 210,000: Auditor, ((sixteen thousand dollars )) $16,000; 26
clerk, ((sixteen thousand dollars )) $16,000; treasurer, ((sixteen 27
thousand dollars)) $16,000; sheriff, ((seventeen thousand six hundred 28
dollars)) $17,600; assessor, ((sixteen thousand dollars )) $16,000; 29
members of the county legislative authority, ((seventeen thousand six 30
hundred dollars )) $17,600; and coroner, ((sixteen thousand dollars )) 31
$16,000; 32
(4) In each county with a population of from ((seventy thousand)) 33
70,000 to less than ((one hundred twenty-five thousand )) 125,000: 34
Auditor, ((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; clerk, 35
((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; treasurer, 36
((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; assessor, 37
((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; sheriff, 38
((fourteen thousand nine hundred dollars )) $14,900; members of the 39
county legislative authority, ((fourteen thousand nine hundred 40
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dollars)) $14,900; and coroner, ((fourteen thousand nine hundred 1
dollars)) $14,900; 2
(5) In each county with a population of from ((forty thousand )) 3
40,000 to less than ((seventy thousand)) 70,000: Auditor, ((thirteen 4
thousand eight hundred dollars )) $13,800; clerk, ((thirteen thousand 5
eight hundred dollars)) $13,800; treasurer, ((thirteen thousand eight 6
hundred dollars )) $13,800; assessor, ((thirteen thousand eight 7
hundred dollars)) $13,800; sheriff, ((thirteen thousand eight hundred 8
dollars)) $13,800; members of the county legislative authority, 9
((thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars )) $13,800; and coroner, 10
((thirteen thousand eight hundred dollars)) $13,800;11
(6) In each county with a population of from ((eighteen 12
thousand)) 18,000 to less than ((forty thousand )) 40,000: Auditor, 13
((twelve thousand one hundred dollars )) $12,100; clerk, ((twelve 14
thousand one hundred dollars )) $12,100; treasurer, ((twelve thousand 15
one hundred dollars)) $12,100; sheriff, ((twelve thousand one hundred 16
dollars)) $12,100; assessor, ((twelve thousand one hundred dollars )) 17
$12,100; members of the county legislative authority, ((eleven 18
thousand dollars )) $11,000; and coroner, $11,000 or on a per case 19
basis as determined by the county legislative authority;20
(7) In each county with a population of from ((twelve thousand)) 21
12,000 to less than ((eighteen thousand )) 18,000: Auditor, ((ten 22
thousand one hundred dollars )) $10,100; clerk, ((ten thousand one 23
hundred dollars )) $10,100; treasurer, ((ten thousand one hundred 24
dollars)) $10,100; assessor, ((ten thousand one hundred dollars )) 25
$10,100; sheriff, ((eleven thousand two hundred dollars )) $11,200; 26
members of the county legislative authority, ((nine thousand four 27
hundred dollars)) $9,400; and coroner, $9,400 or on a per case basis 28
as determined by the county legislative authority;29
(8) In each county with a population of from ((eight thousand )) 30
8,000 to less than ((twelve thousand )) 12,000: Auditor, ((ten 31
thousand one hundred dollars )) $10,100; clerk, ((ten thousand one 32
hundred dollars )) $10,100; treasurer, ((ten thousand one hundred 33
dollars)) $10,100; assessor, ((ten thousand one hundred dollars )) 34
$10,100; sheriff, ((eleven thousand two hundred dollars )) $11,200; 35
members of the county legislative authority, ((seven thousand 36
dollars)) $7,000; and coroner, $7,000 or on a per case basis as 37
determined by the county legislative authority; 38
(9) In each county with a population of from ((five thousand )) 39
5,000 to less than ((eight thousand)) 8,000: Auditor, ((nine thousand 40
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one hundred dollars )) $9,100; clerk, ((nine thousand one hundred 1
dollars)) $9,100; treasurer, ((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) 2
$9,100; assessor, ((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) $9,100; 3
sheriff, ((ten thousand five hundred dollars )) $10,500; members of 4
the county legislative authority, ((six thousand five hundred 5
dollars)) $6,500; and coroner, $6,500 or on a per case basis as 6
determined by the county legislative authority; 7
(10) In each other county: Auditor, ((nine thousand one hundred 8
dollars)) $9,100; clerk, ((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) 9
$9,100; treasurer, ((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) $9,100; 10
sheriff, ((ten thousand five hundred dollars )) $10,500; assessor, 11
((nine thousand one hundred dollars )) $9,100; members of the county 12
legislative authority, ((six thousand five hundred dollars )) $6,500; 13
and coroner, $6,500 or on a per case basis as determined by the 14
county legislative authority; 15
(11) The state of Washington shall contribute an amount equal to 16
one-half the salary of a superior court judge towards the salary of 17
the elected prosecuting attorney. Upon receipt of the state 18
contribution, a county shall continue to contribute towards the 19
salary of the elected prosecuting attorney in an amount that equals 20
or exceeds that contributed by the county in 2008.21
Sec. 6. RCW 36.24.205 and 2021 c 127 s 1 are each amended to 22
read as follows: 23
Within 12 months of being ((elected or)) appointed to the office, 24
a coroner or medical examiner must have a certificate of completion 25
of medicolegal forensic investigation training that complies with the 26
standards adopted for the medicolegal training academy adopted by the 27
criminal justice training commission in conjunction with the 28
Washington association of coroners and medical examiners and a 29
practicing physician selected by the commission pursuant to RCW 30
43.101.480. This requirement does not apply to an elected prosecutor 31
acting as the ex officio coroner in a county. All medicolegal 32
investigative personnel employed by any coroner's or medical 33
examiner's office must complete medicolegal forensic investigation 34
training as required under RCW 43.101.480. A county in which the 35
coroner or county medical examiner has not obtained such 36
certification within 12 months of assuming office may have its 37
reimbursement from the death investigations account reduced as 38
provided under RCW 68.50.104. 39
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NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act is necessary for the immediate 1
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 2
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 3
effect immediately.4
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