N.Y. CNT Law § 679 — New York Code / Act CNT / Article 17-A / Section 679
Training requirements for coroners and coroner's deputies
Status: in_force

* § 679. Training requirements for coroners and coroner's deputies.\nEach coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed pursuant\nto section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and successfully\ncomplete state-approved courses in medical-legal investigation. The cost\nof such courses shall be the responsibility of the coroner or coroner's\ndeputy, provided however that the county may, at its discretion,\nreimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a portion of the\ncost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed, certified and\naccredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of health, in\nconsultation with the department of state, the division of criminal\njustice services, the superintendent of state police, the commissioner\nof education, and the chair of the commission on forensic science. The\ndepartment of health may also consult with qualified professional\ngroups. Such rules shall also establish the frequency and duration for\nsuccessful completion of any such courses by a coroner or coroner's\ndeputy and may prescribe heightened levels of training for any newly\nelected or appointed coroner or coroner's deputy.\n  * NB Effective until December 19, 2026\n  * § 679. Training requirements for coroners and coroner's deputies. 1.\nEach coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed pursuant\nto section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and successfully\ncomplete initial state-approved courses in medical-legal investigation.\nThe cost of such courses shall be the responsibility of the coroner or\ncoroner's deputy, provided however that the county may, at its\ndiscretion, reimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a\nportion of the cost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed,\ncertified and accredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department\nof health, in consultation with the department of state, the division of\ncriminal justice services, the superintendent of state police, the\ncommissioner of education, and the chair of the commission on forensic\nscience. The department of health may also consult with qualified\nprofessional groups. Such rules shall also establish the frequency and\nduration for successful completion of any such courses by the coroner or\ncoroner's deputy and may prescribe heightened levels of training for any\nnewly elected or appointed coroner or coroner's deputy.\n  2. (a) In addition to the training requirements of subdivision one of\nthis section, each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or\nappointed pursuant to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend\nand successfully complete a minimum of thirty credit hours in\nstate-approved continuing medical legal investigation courses every\nthree years. The cost of such courses shall be the responsibility of the\ncoroner or coroner's deputy, provided however that the county may, at\nits discretion, reimburse the coroner or coroner's deputy for all or a\nportion of the cost of such courses. Such courses shall be prescribed,\ncertified and accredited pursuant to rules promulgated by the department\nof health, in consultation with the department of state, the division of\ncriminal justice services, the superintendent of state police, the\ncommissioner of education, and the chair of the commission on forensic\nscience. The department of health may also consult with qualified\nprofessional groups.\n  (b) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall be exempt from the\nmandatory continuing education requirement for one year following the\nsuccessful completion of the state-approved courses in medical-legal\ninvestigation required by subdivision one of this section.\n  (c)(i) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall:\n  (A) on a form and date prescribed by the county, register triennially\nand attest to their respective county, and the department upon request,\nthat they have successfully completed a minimum of thirty credit hours\nof continuing medical-legal investigation courses; and\n  (B) maintain records of compliance with such continuing education\nrequirements for seven years and shall provide such documentation of\ncompliance upon request by their respective county or the department of\nhealth.\n  (ii) Coroner and coroner's deputy attestations shall be filed in the\noffice of the county clerk.\n  (d) A coroner or coroner's deputy who does not satisfy the mandatory\ncontinuing education requirements shall be barred from practice until\nthey have met such requirements; provided, however, that their\nrespective county may temporarily waive such requirements for extended\nactive duty with the armed forces of the United States or state, or for\nno longer than one year for other good cause, acceptable to the\nrespective county, which may prevent compliance.\n  * NB Effective December 19, 2026\n