1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; modifying requirements relating to the provision of cause of 
1.3 	death information; permitting administrative penalties;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2022, sections 144.221, by adding a subdivision; 144.227, by adding a 
1.5 	subdivision.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 144.221, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.8 	to read:
1.9 		Subd. 2a.Investigated natural deaths. (a) If a medical examiner or coroner investigates 
1.10 	a death and declines jurisdiction based on the medical examiner's or coroner's determination 
1.11 	that the death was due to natural causes, cause of death information for the death must be 
1.12 	provided by:
1.13 	(1) a physician present at the time of death;
1.14 	(2) a physician or associate of a physician who provided medical treatment for the 
1.15 	deceased before death; or
1.16 	(3) a physician who has direct knowledge of the circumstances and cause of death and 
1.17 	has access to the medical record of the deceased.
1.18 	(b) If there is no physician meeting the description of paragraph (a), clause (1) or (3), a 
1.19 	physician or associate of a physician meeting the description of paragraph (a), clause (2), 
1.20 	has 72 hours to complete the requirements of paragraph (a) after the individual receives 
1.21 	notification that:
1.22 	(1) the medical examiner or coroner declined jurisdiction; and
2.1 	(2) no physician meeting the description of paragraph (a), clause (1) or (3), exists.
2.2 	(c) A medical examiner or coroner that has declined jurisdiction may provide cause of 
2.3 	death information if:
2.4 	(1) the time period for information to be provided by a physician or associate of a 
2.5 	physician described in paragraph (b) has elapsed; or
2.6 	(2) the medical examiner or coroner has received a statement that the physician or 
2.7 	associate of a physician refuses to provide the cause of death information.
2.8 	(d) If a medical examiner or coroner that has declined jurisdiction provides cause of 
2.9 	death information pursuant to paragraph (c), the individual may recover all costs incurred 
2.10 	in providing cause of death information from the refusing physician or associate of a 
2.11 	physician.

2.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 144.227, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
2.13 	read:
2.14 		Subd. 4.Death registration. The commissioner may impose a penalty on a physician 
2.15 	or associate of a physician, as applicable, in the amount of $1,000 for each day that:
2.16 	(1) the physician or associate of a physician intentionally fails to meet the requirements 
2.17 	of section 144.221, subdivision 2a; and
2.18 	(2) a medical examiner or coroner who has declined jurisdiction has not provided cause 
2.19 	of death information pursuant to section 144.221, subdivision 2a, paragraph (c).