MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Fees, Salaries and Administration

By: Senator(s) Smith

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-61-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE FEE PAID BY A COUNTY TO THE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER FOR EACH COMPLETED INVESTIGATIVE DEATH REPORT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 41-61-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-61-75. (1) For each investigation with the preparation and submission of the required reports, the following fees shall be billed to and paid by the county for which the service is provided:

(a) A medical examiner or his deputy shall receive Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) for each completed report of investigation of death, plus the examiner's actual expenses.

(b) The pathologist performing autopsies as provided in Section 41-61-65 shall receive Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per completed autopsy, plus mileage expenses to and from the site of the autopsy.

(2) Any medical examiner, physician or pathologist who is subpoenaed for appearance and testimony before a grand jury, courtroom trial or deposition shall be entitled to an expert witness hourly fee to be set by the court and mileage expenses to and from the site of the testimony, and such amount shall be paid by the jurisdiction or party issuing the subpoena.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is hereby directed to submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after October 1, 1998, if it is effectuated on or before that date under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended. If it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, after October 1, 1998, this act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.