PUBLIC HEALTH: Requires coroners to report certain information regarding sudden child deaths. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

The age threshold for mandatory autopsies was increased from children under one year to children under fifteen years old.

Autopsies for the newly included age group must now include a review of the child's immunization records from the state registry.

The required autopsy components were expanded to explicitly include microscopic and toxicology studies.

A new provision allows coroners to perform autopsies even if parents object, provided the death involves public safety, health, or welfare concerns.

The previous restriction preventing coroners from performing autopsies if parents objected in writing was removed, with a new exception for public safety.

Reporting requirements for specific causes of death (such as SIDS) were updated to include additional categories like Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome and Sudden Death in the Young.

The legal citation for the relevant statute was changed from R.S. 13:5713(L) to R.S. 13:5713(C).

The document title was changed from 'REENGROSSED' to 'ENROLLED', indicating the bill has passed all stages and is ready for the Governor's signature.

Representatives Amedee, Bayham, Dickerson, Galle, Jacob Landry, McMakin, Owen, Wright, and Wyble were added to the list of sponsors, reflecting their co-sponsorship in the House.

The detailed 'Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate' and 'Senate Floor Amendments' sections were removed, as these are no longer relevant to the final enrolled text.

Page numbering and internal coding notes were updated to reflect the final two-page enrolled format.

Changed the reporting chain for sudden infant deaths so the coroner reports to the Louisiana Department of Health instead of directly to the parish health unit.

Authorized coroners and their contracted forensic pathologists to access a child's immunization records in the state registry without requiring written consent from parents or guardians.

Consolidated scattered provisions about immunization records into a single section to improve clarity and organization.