Int 0854-2012

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Section 557 of chapter 22 of the New York City Charter is amended by adding a new subdivision (h) to read as follows: (h) The records maintained by the office of the chief medical examiner, or the contents of such records, shall not be made available to the public or be open to public inspection except as follows: (1) Upon application of the personal representative, spouse or next of kin of the deceased person to the office of the chief medical examiner, a copy of the autopsy report shall be furnished to such applicant. (2) Upon application of any person who is or may be affected in a civil or criminal action by the contents of the record of any investigation by the office of the chief medical examiner, or upon application of any person having a substantial interest in such action, an order may be made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the record of such investigation be made available to such applicant for inspection, or that a transcript thereof be furnished to such applicant, or both. (3) The office of the chief medical examiner may disclose such records or the content of such records in response to a public health emergency. §2. This local law shall take effect immediately. LS# 3430 LCC/JM 5/11/12