Staffing for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

Item 273 #2c

Language
Page 302, line 50, strike "$20,609,550" and insert "$20,859,550".
Page 302, line 50, strike "$20,609,550" and insert "$20,859,550".

Explanation

(This amendment provides $250,000 each year from the general fund for three additional positions in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). In 2022, the OCME investigated 19,848 deaths and 9,691 fell under the OCME's jurisdiction which is an increase from 2017, when the OCME investigated 14,409 deaths and 7,187 fell within the OCME's jurisdiction. The OCME's current staffing levels are insufficient to effectively and efficiently support the increase in workload. Additionally, this increase in staffing is needed as the OCME continues to have difficulty recruiting board-certified forensic pathologists and requires additional support to ensure they are getting 90 percent of cases completed within 90 days.)