New laws regarding human remains take effect

(COLORADO) — Two laws concerning human remains are set to take effect on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

HB24-1100 adds to the requirements to become a County Coroner. It requires that “a coroner elected on or after November 5, 2024, in a county with a population greater than one hundred fifty thousand, is a death investigator certified by and in good standing with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators or is a forensic pathologist certified by and in good standing with the American Board of Pathology.”

Dr. Leon Kelly the current County Coroner for El Paso County shared his support for the bill:

The investigation of sudden, unexpected, suspicious, and traumatic deaths is an essential component of maintaining public health and safety. The passage of HB24-1100 ensures competency and accountability in one of most challenging and important local elected offices, so that our citizens, law enforcement, and public officials are assured that if and when tragedies happen, the office charged with investigating these deaths is led on day 1 by someone actually qualified to do so.

Dr. Leon Kelly, El Paso County Coroner

HB24-1254 is concerned with the regulation of nontransplant tissue banks, including a report on the regulation of tissue banks and expands requirements for nontransplant tissue banks to disclose that they may sell all or any portion of the remains along with allowing the donor to limit the sale of donated remains. The limitations can include prohibiting sales to foreign buyers for nonmedical research, or military use.

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