Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

Present law generally provides that the reports of the county medical examiners, toxicological reports, and autopsy reports are public documents. This bill amends this provision to provide, instead, that except as provided in this bill and in present law, the reports of the county medical examiners, toxicological reports, and autopsy reports are public documents. This bill specifically provides that the reports of county medical examiners and autopsy reports of victims of violent crime who are minors are not public documents. The report of a county medical examiner or autopsy report of a minor victim of a violent crime may be released if: (1) The minor's parent or legal guardian is not a suspect in the circumstances of the minor's death and the parent or legal guardian consents to the release; or (2) A court orders the release of the report upon a showing of good cause. ON MARCH 4, 2024, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1695, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes to the bill: (1) Provides that reports of county medical examiners and autopsy reports of minors whose manner of death is listed as a homicide are not public documents; (2) Allows for the report of a county medical examiner or autopsy report of a minor whose death is listed as a homicide to be released if another state or federal law requires such release; and (3) Deletes the definition of a "violent crime". ON APRIL 8, 2024, THE HOUSE REQUESTED THE SENATE RETURN HOUSE BILL 1695, AS AMENDED. ON APRIL 9, 2024, THE SENATE RETURNED HOUSE BILL 1695, AS AMENDED. ON APRIL 11, 2024, THE HOUSE LIFTED THE TABLING MOTION, RECONSIDERED ITS ACTION IN PASSING HOUSE BILL 1695, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #7, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1695, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #7 makes the following changes: (1) Authorizes the report of a county medical examiner or autopsy report of a minor whose manner of death is listed as a homicide to also be inspected, instead of just released, if (i) the minor's parent or legal guardian is not a suspect in the circumstances of the minor's death, and the parent or legal guardian consents to the release; (ii) a court orders the release of the report upon a showing of good cause; or (iii) another state or federal law requires such release; and (2) Allows for the report of a county medical examiner or autopsy report of a minor whose death is listed as a homicide to be released or inspected, as applicable, if the reports are only available for in-person inspection and no photographs, photocopies, or electronic images are taken of the reports.