§ 26B-8-227 — Registry of unidentified deceased persons.

(1) If the identity of a deceased person over which the medical examiner has jurisdiction under Section 26B-8-205 is unknown, the medical examiner shall do the following:
(1)(a) assign a unique identifying number to the body;
(1)(b) create and maintain a file under the assigned number;
(1)(c) examine the body, take samples, and perform other related tasks for the purpose of deriving information that may be useful in ascertaining the identity of the deceased person;
(1)(d) use the identifying number in all records created by the medical examiner that pertains to the body;
(1)(e) record all information pertaining to the body in the file created and maintained under Subsection (1)(b);
(1)(f) communicate the unique identifying number to the county in which the body was found; and
(1)(g) access information from available government sources and databases in an attempt to ascertain the identity of the deceased person.
(2) The medical examiner shall cooperate and share information generated and maintained under this section with a person who demonstrates:
(2)(a) a legitimate personal or governmental interest in determining the identity of a deceased person; and
(2)(b) a reasonable belief that the body of that deceased person may have come into the custody of the medical examiner.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 240, 2024 General Session