§ 679 — Training requirements for coroners and coroner's deputies

* § 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 June 17, 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 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 the coroner or coroner's\ndeputy and may prescribe heightened levels of training for any newly\nelected or appointed coroner or coroner's deputy.\n 2. (a) Each coroner and coroner's deputy, whether elected or appointed\npursuant to section four hundred of this chapter, shall attend and\nsuccessfully complete no less than thirty credits in state-approved\nmedical legal investigation courses over a three-year period. 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 groups\nincluding but not limited to the New York state association of county\ncoroners and medical examiners. Each coroner and coroner's deputy shall\nregister triennially with the department of health to practice and shall\ncomply with the provisions of the mandatory continuing education\nrequirements prescribed in this subdivision.\n (b) Each coroner or coroner's deputy shall be exempt from the\nmandatory continuing education requirement for one year following the\ndate on which they are first elected or appointed pursuant to section\nfour hundred of this chapter.\n (c) A coroner or coroner's deputy who does not satisfy the mandatory\ncontinuing education requirements, except as provided by paragraph (b)\nof this subdivision, shall not practice until they have met such\nrequirements, and they have been issued a certificate of completion by\nthe department of health or other agency listed in paragraph (a) of this\nsubdivision. The New York state association of county coroners and\nmedical examiners shall retain records of compliance with the continuing\neducation requirements by all coroners and coroner's deputies and shall\nnotify those individuals and their respective counties if a coroner or\ncoroner's deputy is not in compliance with this subdivision.\n (d) In accordance with the intent of this subdivision, adjustment to\nthe mandatory continuing education requirement may be granted by the\ndepartment of health for reasons of health if certified by an\nappropriate health care professional, for extended active duty with the\narmed forces of the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to\nthe department of health which may prevent compliance.\n * NB Effective June 17, 2026\n