45-16-39 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-39.
    
  (a) The following oath shall be administered to the foreman of the
  jury by the coroner:
    
    "You, as foreman of the inquest, shall diligently inquire and true
    presentment make, on behalf of the State of Georgia, how and in
    what manner ________ (or a person deceased, unknown, as the case
    may be) came to his death and of such other matters relating to
    the same as shall be lawfully required of you, according to
    evidence, so help you God."
    
  (b) The remainder of the jury shall be sworn by the coroner as
  follows:
    
    "The same oath which the foreman of this inquest has taken on his
    part each of you shall observe and keep upon your part, so help
    you God."


45-16-40 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-40.
    
  (a) The coroner shall charge the jurors to declare, and they shall
  so declare, whether the person for whom the inquest is held died by:
    
    (1) Homicide;
    
    (2) Suicide;
    
    (3) Accident;
    
    (4) Natural causes; or
    
    (5) Undetermined causes
    
  and all of the circumstances relating to the death.
    
  (b) The jury shall have full and unrestricted power to inquire and
  pass upon all the matters and things thus given them in charge and
  they shall have this power even if the whole or a part of the charge
  is omitted.


45-16-41 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-41.
    
  Any juror failing to attend and serve on a coroner's inquest after
  being duly summoned may be fined by the coroner in a sum not
  exceeding $100.00 to be levied and collected by execution issued by
  the coroner unless such defaulting juror shall file in the office of
  the judge of the probate court a good and sufficient excuse for the
  default to be judged by the next probate court held thereafter.




45-16-42 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-42.
    
  In all inquests the results of the medical examiner's inquiry
  performed shall be offered in evidence either by oral testimony of
  the medical examiner or by introduction of a copy of the report
  filed with the director of the division, as verified in the cases
  requiring verification. The jury shall be free to reach a verdict in
  accord or discord with such evidence but in all cases such evidence
  must be presented to them for their consideration.




45-16-43 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-43.
    
  Reports of medical examiners' inquiries performed as provided in
  this article and copies of records, photographs, laboratory
  findings, and reports in the office of the director of the division,
  when duly attested by said director, shall be received as evidence
  in any court or other proceeding for any purpose for which the
  original could be received without any proof of the official
  character of the person whose name is signed thereto.



45-16-44 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-44.
    
  After the medical examiner's inquiry and inquest have been
  completed, the dead body shall be delivered to the person legally
  entitled thereto for burial.  If no person claims the body, it shall
  be turned over to the coroner of the county where death occurred for
  disposition as provided by law.  If the deceased has an estate out
  of which burial expenses can be paid, either in whole or in part,
  such estate shall be taken for such purpose before any expense under
  this Code section is imposed upon any county.




45-16-45 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-45.
    
  In order to implement this article, coroners are authorized to
  disinter any body already buried and, like a sheriff, to command the
  power of the county for that purpose. Medical examiners, other than
  local medical examiners, may likewise exercise such authority in any
  case wherein such authority is granted by an order of the judge of
  the superior court of the county. Such orders may be granted by
  judges of the superior courts, in their discretion, upon petition of
  any medical examiner other than a local medical examiner.



45-16-46 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-46.
    
  When any person has been admitted to a hospital or morgue as a
  result of any casualty and for any reason whatsoever is unable to
  give his or her consent to the taking of a sample of blood for
  analytical purposes, the coroner or peace officer in charge of the
  investigation of the circumstances surrounding the casualty may
  notify a medical examiner for the purpose of obtaining a blood
  sample to test for the presence of intoxicating substances or in the
  case of a dead body and where appropriate for the presence of
  infectious agents.  The blood may be drawn by the medical examiner
  or at the medical examiner's direction.  The medical examiner or his
  or her designee shall be entitled to a fee set in accordance with
  Code Section 35-3-151 for performing these services, which fee shall
  be paid in the same manner as set out in Code Section 45-16-22. The
  peace officer may also request any licensed physician, nurse,
  emergency medical technician, medical or laboratory technician, or
  other qualified person to withdraw blood for purposes of this Code
  section, in which event such person shall incur no civil or criminal
  liability.  The medical examiner or the peace officer in charge
  shall submit the blood specimens to the division for analysis; and a
  report shall be submitted by the division to the submitting officer.


45-16-47 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-47.
    
  Except as provided in Code Section 45-16-30, any person who violates
  this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.





45-16-48 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-48.
    
  A coroner may be authorized to employ, at his discretion, a court
  reporter who is certified under Article 2 of Chapter 14 of Title 15,
  "The Georgia Court Reporting Act," to record the proceedings of any
  inquest.  The cost of acquiring the services of a certified court
  reporter shall be paid from the funds of the county where the
  inquest is held.



45-16-49 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-49.
    
  The fees heretofore authorized to be paid in cases arising under
  this article prior to May 1, 1997, shall continue to be paid at the
  rate specified therein until such time as the Board of Public Safety
  promulgates rules prescribing such fees as provided by paragraph (5)
  of Code Section 35-3-151.


45-16-60 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-60.
    
  This article shall be known as "The Georgia Coroner's Training
  Council Act."


45-16-61 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-61.
    
  As used in this article, the term:
    
    (1) "Certified coroner" means a coroner who has the appropriate
    required certificate of training issued by the council on file
    with the Board of Public Safety.
    
    (2) "Coroner" means any person appointed or elected in a county to
    serve as coroner or deputy coroner.
    
    (3) "Council" means the Georgia Coroner's Training Council.
    
    (4) "School" means any school, college, university, academy, or
    training program approved by the council and the Board of Public
    Safety which offers basic, in-service, advanced, specialized, or
    continuing training, or a combination thereof, and includes within
    its meaning a combination of course curriculum, instructors, and
    facilities which meets the standards required by the council.



45-16-62 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-62.
    
  (a) There is established a council which shall be known and
  designated as the "Georgia Coroner's Training Council" which shall
  be composed of the superintendent of the Georgia Police Academy or
  his designee, which member shall not be a voting member; five
  coroners appointed by the Board of Public Safety, three of whom will
  be selected from a list of five persons recommended by the Georgia
  Coroner's Association; and one physician trained in forensic
  pathology and appointed by the Board of Public Safety, which
  physician member shall not be a voting member of the council but
  shall advise the council regarding the training course curriculum
  for coroners.  The term of office of the physician member appointed
  in 1990 shall begin September 1, 1990, and that and all subsequent
  terms for that office shall be for four years and until the
  appointment and qualification of a successor. The five coroners
  appointed shall serve for terms of four years.  The term of office
  of the member initially appointed in 1987 shall begin September 1,
  1987.  Upon the expiration of a member's term of office, such member
  shall continue to serve on the council until his successor is
  appointed and qualified.  Any person, other than the physician
  member, appointed to the council who ceases to serve as a coroner
  shall be ineligible to continue service on the council. The Georgia
  Police Academy shall establish a curriculum advisory committee to
  provide information beneficial to the development of courses at the
  Georgia Police Academy.  Members of the committee will be selected
  by the superintendent of the Georgia Police Academy.
    
  (b) Membership on the council does not constitute public office, and
  no member shall be disqualified from holding office by reason of his
  membership.
    
  (c) Vacancies on the council shall be filled as provided in
  subsection (a) of this Code section for the remainder of the
  unexpired term.



45-16-63 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-63.
    
  Immediately and before entering upon the duties of office, the
  members of the council shall take the oath of office and shall file
  the same with the Board of Public Safety, which, upon receiving the
  oath of office, shall issue to each member a certificate of
  appointment.

45-16-64 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  45-16-64.
    
  (a) The council at its initial meeting, which shall be held promptly
  after the appointment of its members, shall elect from among its
  members a chairman and a vice-chairman who shall serve until the
  first meeting in the succeeding year.  Thereafter, the chairman and
  the vice-chairman shall be elected at the first meeting of each
  calendar year.
    
  (b) The superintendent of the Georgia Police Academy or his designee
  shall serve as secretary to the council.
    
  (c) A simple majority of the council members shall constitute a
  quorum for the transaction of business.
    
  (d) The council shall maintain minutes of its meetings and such
  other records as it deems necessary.
    
  (e) The council shall report at least annually to the Board of
  Public Safety and to the General Assembly as to its activities.