CHAPTER 124
INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL
FOR THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER
641—124.1(691) Purpose. The purposes of the interagency coordinating council for the state medical examiner are to provide guidance concerning medicolegal death investigation for the state of Iowa, facilitate optimal relationships between the state and county medical examiners and other agencies involved in death investigation, and provide a venue for both the exchange of information vital to the continued operations of the Iowa office of the state medical examiner and the effective coordination of the functions and operations of the office of the state medical examiner with the needs and interests of the department of public safety and the department of public health, with input and guidance from the governor’s office and other council members.
[ARC 4705C, IAB 10/9/19, effective 11/13/19]
641—124.2(691) Membership. Members shall include representatives from agencies and organizations that are directly involved with the office of the state medical examiner and medicolegal death investigation in the state of Iowa.
	124.2(1) The interagency coordinating council for the state medical examiner members shall include the following:
	a. 	The state medical examiner or, when the state medical examiner is not available, the deputy state medical examiner;
	b. 	The commissioner of public safety or the commissioner’s designee;
	c. 	The director of public health or the director’s designee;
	d. 	The governor or the governor’s designee;
	e. 	A representative from the office of the attorney general;
	f. 	A representative from the Iowa County Attorneys Association;
	g. 	A representative from the Iowa Medical Society;
	h. 	A representative from the Iowa Association of Pathologists;
	i. 	A representative from the Iowa Association of County Medical Examiners;
	j. 	A representative from the statewide emergency medical system; and
	k. 	A representative from the Iowa Funeral Directors Association.
	124.2(2) Each specific organization listed in paragraphs 124.2(2)“e” through “k” shall designate a representative to serve on the coordinating council. Representatives shall be approved by the state medical examiner in consultation with the director of public health.
	124.2(3) The state medical examiner may invite representatives from other relevant organizations to provide specific insights to a particular issue, as needed.
[ARC 4705C, IAB 10/9/19, effective 11/13/19]
641—124.3(691) Meetings.
	124.3(1) The interagency coordinating council shall schedule two meetings per year to be held at the office of the director of public health.
	124.3(2) Meetings may be scheduled more frequently or less frequently depending upon the circumstances and the need for consultation.
	124.3(3) Meetings may be canceled by any member with the agreement of the other members.
	124.3(4) All meetings are open to the public in accordance with the open meetings law, Iowa Code chapter 21.
[ARC 8229B, IAB 10/7/09, effective 11/11/09]
641—124.4(691) Duties. The interagency coordinating council shall do all of the following:
	124.4(1) Advise and consult with the state medical examiner on a range of issues affecting the organization and functions of the office of the state medical examiner and the effectiveness of the medical examiner system in the state.
	124.4(2) Advise the state medical examiner concerning the assurance of effective coordination of the functions and operations of the office of the state medical examiner with the department of public safety and the department of public health in order to better serve the needs of the citizens of Iowa.
	124.4(3) Provide information to council members regarding the current operations and functions of the office of the state medical examiner.
	124.4(4) Provide to and receive from the governor’s office updated information relevant to the mission of the state medical examiner’s office.
	124.4(5) Discuss legislative and budgetary decisions that may impact the functions and operations of any agency or member entity represented by the interagency coordinating council.
	124.4(6) Elicit council members’ suggestions and recommendations to improve the overall operations of the office of the state medical examiner.
[ARC 4705C, IAB 10/9/19, effective 11/13/19]
641—124.5(691) Minutes. The office of the state medical examiner shall keep minutes of all meetings showing the date, time, place, members present, and the general topics presented.
	124.5(1) The minutes shall be provided to the members of the interagency coordinating council prior to the next scheduled meeting.
	124.5(2) The minutes shall be available at the office of the state medical examiner for public inspection Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.	to 4:30 p.m.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 691.6B.
[Filed 1/10/08, Notice 11/21/07—published 1/30/08, effective 3/5/08]
[Filed ARC 8229B (Notice ARC 7968B, IAB 7/15/09), IAB 10/7/09, effective 11/11/09]
[Filed ARC 4705C (Notice ARC 4540C, IAB 7/17/19), IAB 10/9/19, effective 11/13/19]