SB-1289, As Passed Senate, June 15, 2004

SENATE BILL No. 1289

(As amended, June 10, 2004)

June 8, 2004, Introduced by Senator GEORGE and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

                                                                             A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled                                             

"Public health code,"                                                       

by amending section 2855a (MCL 333.2855a), as added by 2003 PA              

322.                                                                        

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1       Sec. 2855a.  (1) A person shall not publicly <<display disseminate>> an     

2   autopsy photograph of a decedent that identifies the decedent by            

3   name, face, or other identifying physical feature unless 1 of the           

4   following conditions is met:                                                

5       (a) One of the following individuals specifically provides                  

6   written authorization for the public <<display dissemination>> of the autopsy    

7   photograph:                                                                 

8                                                                                (i) A person nominated by will or other writing signed by the                       

9   decedent.                                                                   

10      (ii) If an individual described in subparagraph (i) cannot be                

Senate Bill No. 1289 as amended June 10, 2004                               

1   identified or located following a diligent and good faith effort,           

2   the decedent's spouse.                                                      

3       (iii) If an individual described in subparagraph (i) or (ii)                   

4   cannot be identified or located following a diligent and good               

5   faith effort, an adult child of the decedent.                               

6       (iv) If an individual described in subparagraph (i), (ii), or                 

7   (iii) cannot be identified or located following a diligent and               

8   good faith effort, a parent of the decedent.                                

9       (v) If an individual described in subparagraph (i), (ii),                     

10  (iii), or (iv) cannot be identified or located following a                    

11  diligent and good faith effort, the next of kin of the decedent.            

12      (vi) If an individual described in subparagraph (i), (ii),                    

13  (iii), (iv), or (v) cannot be identified or located following a               

14  diligent and good faith effort, an individual charged by law with           

15  the responsibility for burial or cremation of the decedent's                

16  body.                                                                       

17      (b) The public <<display dissemination>> of the autopsy photograph is 1 of the    

18  following:                                                                  

19                                                                               (i) Upon written authorization by the prosecuting attorney                          

20  having jurisdiction for a purpose directly related to the                   

21  investigation or prosecution of a criminal case.                            

22      (ii) Authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction for a                   

23  purpose directly related to the proceedings in a civil case.                

24      (iii) Required for a health department to carry out its                      

25  lawful duties.                                                              

26      (iv) Necessary for legitimate research or teaching of only                   

27  medical, public health, or public safety personnel or students              

Senate Bill No. 1289 as amended June 10, 2004

1   enrolled at a postsecondary educational institution.                        

2       <<(v) Pursuant to a request of a law enforcement agency as part of

3    and directly related to a criminal investigation.  An autopsy photograph

received under this subparagraph is confidential, is not subject to disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, and shall not be disclosed to any person except for law enforcement purposes.>>

4       (2) A decedent's parent, surviving spouse, and children who                 

5   are injured as a result of a violation of this section may bring            

6   an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover                   

7   $1,000.00 or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus costs and           

8   reasonable attorney fees.                                                   

9       (3) This section does not apply to an internet service                      

10  provider or computer network service provider who in good faith,            

11  and without knowledge of the content of the photograph, provides            

12  the medium for public <<display dissemination>> of the photograph.  As used in this                                                                            

13  subsection, "internet service provider" means a person who                  

14  provides a service that enables users to access content,                    

15  information, electronic mail, or other services offered over the            

16  internet.                                                                   

17      (4) This section does not prohibit constitutionally protected               

18  speech or activity.                                                         

19      (5) As used in this section:                                                

20      (a) "Autopsy photograph" means an image of a decedent                       

21  obtained during an autopsy of that decedent in this state, and              

22  includes an image on videotape, motion picture or other film, or            

23  an image captured by digital means.                                         

24      (b) "Decedent" means a deceased human being.                                

25      (c) "Public <<display dissemination>>" means to knowingly communicate, exhibit, <<disseminate,>>

26  or display in open view or to distribute to members of the public           

27  or in a public manner, whether or not for commercial purposes,              

1   through any medium of communication including, but not limited              

2   to, the internet or a computer, computer network, computer                  

3   program, or computer system, as those terms are defined in                  

4   section 2 of 1979 PA 53, MCL 752.792.