5039: FIRST ANALYSIS (1-4-06) - MED. EXAMINER: OUT-OF-STATE LICENSEE

MED. EXAMINER: OUT-OF-STATE LICENSEE H.B. 5039: FIRST ANALYSIS

House Bill 5039 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Tom Casperson
House Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy
Senate Committee: Local, Urban and State Affairs

Date Completed: 1-4-06

RATIONALE

Under Public Act 181 of 1953 (which creates the office of county medical examiner), county commissioners must appoint a county medical examiner who is a physician licensed to practice in Michigan. Reportedly, the medical examiner in Menominee County (located on the Wisconsin border) retired recently, and there are few licensed physicians located in the county because it does not have a hospital. There is, however, a hospital located just over the border in Wisconsin. Some people believe that a physician licensed in a bordering state should be allowed to serve as a county medical examiner under these circumstances.

CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 181 of 1953 to allow a physician licensed in another state that borders the county to serve as medial examiner in a county that does not have an accredited hospital.

MCL 52.201

ARGUMENTS (Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)

Supporting Argument The recent retirement of the Menominee County medical examiner presents a problem for the sparsely populated Upper Peninsula county located on the Wisconsin border, because it has no hospital and few doctors licensed to practice in Michigan. Apparently, most residents receive medical care from providers in Wisconsin. Under Public Act 181 of 1953, the county could join with a neighboring county to appoint joint medical examiner, but the distance between communities in the adjoining counties would make such an arrangement impractical. The bill would allow the county to appoint as medical examiner a doctor who practices in Wisconsin.

Legislative Analyst: J.P. Finet

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Fiscal Analyst: David Zin

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5039/0506