Introduced Version






HOUSE BILL No. 1144

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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 35-45-19.

Synopsis: Failure to report a dead body. A person who discovers or has custody of the body of a deceased person and who knowingly or intentionally fails to report the dead body to a public safety officer, coroner, or physician when it appears the deceased person died by violence, suicide, accident, or under certain other suspicious or unusual circumstances, commits failure to report a dead body, a Class A misdemeanor.

Effective: July 1, 2008.





Pelath




    January 8, 2008, read first time and referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs.







Introduced

Second Regular Session 115th General Assembly (2008)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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HOUSE BILL No. 1144



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 35-45-19; (08)IN1144.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 35-45-19 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008]:
    Chapter 19. Failure to Report a Dead Body
    Sec. 1. This chapter does not apply to the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that:
        (1) results in the death of a person; and
        (2) must be reported under IC 9-26-1-1.
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "public safety officer" means:
        (1) a law enforcement officer;
        (2) a correctional officer;
        (3) a state university police officer;
        (4) a firefighter;
        (5) an emergency medical technician; or
        (6) a paramedic.
    Sec. 3. A person who:
        (1) discovers or has custody of the body of a deceased person

when it appears the deceased person died:
            (A) by violence, suicide, or accident;
            (B) by sudden death while in apparent good health;
            (C) while unattended;
            (D) from poisoning or an overdose of drugs;
            (E) as the result of a disease that may constitute a threat to public health;
            (F) as the result of:
                (i) a disease;
                (ii) an injury;
                (iii) a toxic effect; or
                (iv) unusual exertion;
            incurred within the scope of the deceased person's employment;
            (G) due to sudden infant death syndrome;
            (H) as the result of a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure; or
            (I) under any other suspicious or unusual circumstances; and
        (2) knowingly or intentionally fails to report the body of the deceased person to a:
            (A) public safety officer;
            (B) coroner; or
            (C) physician;
commits failure to report a dead body, a Class A misdemeanor.

SOURCE: ; (08)IN1144.1.2. -->     SECTION 2. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008] IC 35-45-19-3, as added by this act, applies only to offenses committed after June 30, 2008.