§ 23-4-6 - State medical examiners commission.
SECTION 23-4-6
§ 23-4-6 State medical examinerscommission. – (a) There is established the state medical examiners commission. The commissionshall hear and determine appeals to decisions by chief medical examinersregarding the undertaking of investigations, inquests, and autopsies, and shalladvise the chief medical examiner on matters of public concern.
(b) The commission shall consist of twelve (12) members,three (3) of whom shall be ex officio members, viz., the director of health,the attorney general, the superintendent of state police, and nine (9)citizens of the state to be appointed by the governor with the advice andconsent of the senate for the term of three (3) years. The governor shall givedue consideration to any recommendations for nominations submitted to him orher by the president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, the president of theRhode Island Society of Pathologists, the president of the Rhode Island BarAssociation, the vice president of Brown University Division of Biological andMedical Sciences and the president of the Rhode Island Funeral DirectorsAssociation. Each citizen member shall hold office for the term of his or herappointment and until his or her successor is appointed. Vacancies for citizenmembers shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term only.
(c) The director of health and the attorney general shall bethe chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively, of the commission. Thechief medical examiner of the office of state medical examiners shall serve asthe executive secretary of the commission, and the expenses of the commissionshall be a responsibility of the department of health. The board may elect fromamong its members such other officers as it deems necessary. Seven (7) membersof the board shall constitute a quorum and the vote of a majority of thosepresent and voting shall be required for action. The commission shall meet atthe call of its chairperson and at least four (4) times each year, the time andthe place for each meeting to be fixed by the chairperson.
(d) Members of the commission shall be removable by thegovernor pursuant to the provisions of § 36-1-7 of the general laws andfor cause only, and removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelatedto capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.
(e) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscalyear, the commission shall approve and submit an annual report to the governor,the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, andthe secretary of state, of its activities during that fiscal year. The reportshall provide an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held,including meeting minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, appealsconsidered and their disposition, rules or regulations promulgated, studiesconducted, policies and plans developed, approved, or modified, and programsadministered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all fundsreceived and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staffsupported by these funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative ortechnical support received; a summary of performance during the previous fiscalyear including accomplishments, shortcomings and remedies; a synopsis ofhearing, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to theauthority of the commission; a summary of any training courses held pursuant tothis chapter; a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year;and findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be postedelectronically on the websites of the general assembly and the secretary ofstate pursuant to the provisions of § 42-20-8.2. The director of thedepartment of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of theprovisions of this subsection.
(f) The commission shall conduct a training course for newlyappointed and qualified members within six (6) months of their qualification ordesignation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the commission, beapproved by the commission, and be conducted by the chair of the commission.The commission may approve the use of any commission and/or staff membersand/or individuals to assist with training. The training course shall includeinstruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14 and38-2; and the commission's rules and regulations. The director of thedepartment of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of June 16, 2006,prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions ofchapters 42-46, 36-14, and 38-2.