New York Assembly Bill A07411

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/25/25
• Refer: 3/25/25
• Report Pass: 4/30/25
• Engrossed: 5/5/25
• Refer: 5/5/25
• Engrossed: 6/10/25
• Enrolled: 12/8/25
• Chaptered: 12/19/25
• Passed: 12/19/25

Caption

Permits the commissioner of health to designate local health officials to request copies of certain reports and records relating to a death.

Summary

A07411 amends the county law to expand who may request death-related records from coroners, coroner’s physicians, and medical examiners. Under current law, the state commissioner of health or the commissioner’s designee may request copies of reports and records related to a death, including autopsy and toxicology reports. This bill adds that the commissioner’s designee may include a local health official, allowing local public health personnel to make these requests when acting on behalf of the state health department. The bill requires the requested reports and records to be provided within three business days after completion, and it takes effect immediately. Its practical effect is to give the Department of Health greater flexibility in obtaining death investigation materials and to speed coordination between state and local public health officials in matters involving mortality review, surveillance, or other official health purposes.

Impact

The bill modifies section 677 of the county law by broadening the category of authorized designees for the commissioner of health. It does not change the underlying obligation of coroners, coroner’s physicians, or medical examiners to provide autopsy and toxicology materials, but it expressly permits local health officials to act as the commissioner’s designee for requesting those records. The affected parties are the state Department of Health, local health departments or officials, and county death-investigation offices that must respond to written requests.

Sentiment

The available voting record suggests strong bipartisan support and little opposition. The bill passed the Assembly Local Governments Committee 17-1, the Assembly floor 146-1, and the Senate floor 58-0, indicating broad agreement that the change is administrative and supportive of public health operations. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate significant controversy.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the expansion of access to sensitive death records, including autopsy and toxicology reports, by allowing local health officials to request them as designees of the state commissioner. Any concerns would likely center on privacy, confidentiality, and whether local officials should have direct authority over these records. However, the near-unanimous votes indicate that any such concerns were minimal or outweighed by the perceived public health and administrative benefits.