KRS § 72.415 — KY Code / Title IX / Chapter 72 / Section 72.415
72.415 Power and authority of coroners and their deputies -- Training course for deputy coroners -- Effects of failure to complete required training
Status: in_force

72.415 Power and authority of coroners and their deputies -- Training course for

deputy coroners -- Effects of failure to complete required training.

(1) For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of KRS 72.410 to 72.470, coroners and

deputy coroners shall have the full power and authority of peace officers in this

state, including the power of arrest and the authority to bear arms, and shall have

the power and authority to:

(a) Administer oaths;

(b) Enter upon public or private premises for the purpose of making

investigations;

(c) Seize evidence;

(d) Interrogate persons;

(e) Require the production of medical records, books, papers, documents, or other

evidence;

(f) Impound vehicles involved in vehicular deaths;

(g) Employ special investigators and photographers; and

(h) Expend funds for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of KRS 72.410 to

72.470.

The fiscal court or urban-county government shall pay all reasonable expenses

incurred by the coroner and his deputy in carrying out his responsibilities under the

provisions of KRS 72.410 to 72.470.

(2) (a) 1. No person shall be eligible to hold the office of deputy coroner unless he

holds a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. Every deputy

coroner, other than a licensed physician, shall be required as a condition

of office to take during every calendar year he or she is in office the

training course of at least eighteen (18) hours provided by the

Department of Criminal Justice Training or other courses approved by

the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet after having completed the basic

training course the first year of employment. The training course shall

include material developed by the cabinet and approved by the Cabinet

for Health and Family Services on the human immunodeficiency virus

infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The material shall

include information on known modes of transmission and methods of

controlling and preventing these diseases with an emphasis on

appropriate behavior and attitude change.

2. Within three (3) years of initially assuming office, every deputy coroner

shall be required as a condition of office to take a course of at least four

(4) hours provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Training that

shall include instruction on the grieving process and best practices for

providing a notice of death to a spouse or next of kin and may include

instruction on other similar topics, as set out in KRS 64.185(4)(b). A

deputy coroner that has completed the course shall not be required to

retake the course.

(b) 1. Any deputy coroner subject to the training requirements of paragraph (a)

of this subsection who fails to complete the mandated training shall be

ineligible to perform the duties of deputy coroner, and may be

terminated by the coroner. The coroner shall make written notification

of the deputy coroner's ineligibility to perform his or her duties to the

deputy coroner and to the fiscal court or the legislative body of the

consolidated local government, charter county government, urban-

county government, or unified local government.

2. The deputy coroner shall regain his or her eligibility upon successful

recompletion of the initial basic training course referenced in KRS

64.185(4), which shall be evidenced by written certification provided by

the Department of Criminal Justice Training to the coroner. Upon

receipt of the certification, the coroner shall make written notification of

the reinstatement of eligibility to the deputy coroner and to the fiscal

court or the legislative body of the consolidated local government,

charter county government, urban-county government, or unified local

government.

3. The compensation of a deputy coroner who becomes ineligible to

perform his or her duties under subparagraph 1. of this paragraph shall

be modified as follows:

a. From the coroner's written notification of ineligibility until the

deputy coroner begins the basic training course mandated by

subparagraph 2. of this paragraph, the deputy coroner shall receive

no compensation;

b. From the first day that the deputy coroner begins the basic training

course mandated by subparagraph 2. of this paragraph until written

notification of course outcome is received by the coroner, the

deputy coroner shall be compensated at his or her previously

established rate of compensation;

c. If the deputy coroner fails the basic training course mandated by

subparagraph 2. of this paragraph, the deputy coroner shall receive

no compensation from the date of receipt of notification of failure

from Department of Criminal Justice Training to the coroner until

the deputy coroner begins anew the basic training course mandated

by subparagraph 2. of this paragraph, at which time the deputy

coroner shall be compensated at his or her previously established

rate of compensation; and

d. If the deputy coroner successfully completes the basic training

course mandated by subparagraph 2. of this paragraph as

evidenced by written certification provided by the Department of

Criminal Justice Training to the coroner, the deputy coroner shall

receive compensation as is normally determined for deputy

coroners pursuant to statute.