North Carolina 2021-2022 Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 2 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 717 — Abolish Office of County Coroner.

Last action — Regular Message Received From House

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

279 added · 290 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of House Bill 717, a few lines were added to clarify the services related to jurors in court. Specifically, the bill now emphasizes the fees and accommodations that jurors will receive, including daily payments and exemptions from ferry tolls for those summoned from out of county. These changes aim to ensure that jurors are fairly compensated and supported during their service, which is important for encouraging civic participation in the justice system.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2021 H 2 HOUSE BILL 717 Committee Substitute Favorable 5/5/21 Short Title:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2021 H 1 HOUSE BILL 717 Short Title:
Representatives Boles, Miller, Hunter, and Wray (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
April 29, 2021 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ABOLISHING THE OFFICE OF COUNTY CORONER IN THIS STATE AND MAKING CONFORMING CHANGES TO THE RELEVANT STATUTES.
State Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 29, 2021 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ABOLISHING THE OFFICE OF COUNTY CORONER IN THIS STATE AND MAKING CONFORMING CHANGES TO THE RELEVANT STATUTES.
…." SECTION 4.
…." *H717-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 SECTION 4.
*H717-v-2* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 "§ 7A-312.
"§ 7A-312.
"§ 17-44.
Page 2 House Bill 717-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 "§ 17-44.
Page 2 House Bill 717-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 The service of the writ shall not be complete, however, unless the applicant for the same tenders to the person in whose custody the prisoner may be, if such person is a sheriff, coroner, sheriff or marshal, the fees and expenses allowed by law for bringing such prisoner, nor unless he also gives bond, with sufficient security, to such sheriff, coroner, sheriff or marshal, as the casemaybe, conditionedthat such applicant will paythecharges ofcarryingbacksuch prisoner." SECTION 11.
The service of the writ shall not be complete, however, unless the applicant for the same tenders to the person in whose custody the prisoner may be, if such person is a sheriff, coroner, sheriff or marshal, the fees and expenses allowed by law for bringing such prisoner, nor unless he also gives bond, with sufficient security, to such sheriff, coroner, sheriff or marshal, as the casemaybe, conditionedthat such applicant will paythecharges ofcarryingbacksuch prisoner." SECTION 11.
and the court shall try the same and render judgment at the session when the motion shall be made, but 10 days' notice in writing of the motion must have been previously given." SECTION 14.5.
and the court shall try the same and render judgment at the session when the motion shall be made, but 10 days' notice in writing of the motion must have been previously given." SECTION 15.
58-76-25 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-76-25.
Evidence against principal admissible against sureties.
In actions brought upon the official bonds of sheriffs, coroners, sheriffs or other public officers, and also upon the bonds of executors, administrators, collectors or guardians, when it may be necessary for the plaintiff to prove any default of the principal obligors, any receipt or acknowledgment ofsuch obligors,oranyothermatterorthingwhichbylaw would beadmissible and competent for or toward proving the same as against him, shall in like manner be admissible and competent as presumptive evidence only against all or any of his sureties who may be defendants with or without him in said actions." SECTION 15.
G.S.
When a claim is placed in the hands of any sheriff or coroner for collection, and he does not use due diligence in collecting the same, he shall be liable for the full amount of the claim notwithstandingthedebtormayhavebeen at all timesandis thenableto paytheamount thereof." House Bill 717-Second Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 SECTION 16.
When a claim is placed in the hands of any sheriff or coroner for collection, and he does not use due diligence in collecting the same, he shall be liable for the full amount of the claim notwithstandingthedebtormayhavebeen at all timesand is thenableto paytheamount thereof." SECTION 16.
– … No person licensed under this Article shall remove or cause to be embalmed a dead human body when he or she has information indicating crime or violence of any sort in connection with the cause of death, nor shall a dead human body be cremated, until permission of the State or county medical examiner has first been obtained.
– … No person licensed under this Article shall remove or cause to be embalmed a dead human body when he or she has information indicating crime or violence of any sort in connection with the cause of death, nor shall a dead human body be cremated, until permission of the State or House Bill 717-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 county medical examiner has first been obtained.
… Page 4 House Bill 717-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (4) After redacting all information identifying the decedent, including name, address, and social security number, and after anonymizing any physical recognition, a medical examiner, coroner, physician, or their designee who uses such material for:
… (4) After redacting all information identifying the decedent, including name, address, and social security number, and after anonymizing any physical recognition, a medical examiner, coroner, physician, or their designee who uses such material for:
d.
Page 4 House Bill 717-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 d.
House Bill 717-Second Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 If any vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, the coroner of the county chief deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then the senior deputy in years of service, shall execute all process directed to the sheriff until the first meeting of the county commissioners next succeeding such vacancy, when the board shall elect a sheriff to supply the vacancy for the residue of the term, who shall possess the same qualifications, enter into the same bond, and be subject to removal, as the sheriff regularly elected.
If any vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, the coroner of the county chief deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then the senior deputy in years of service, shall execute all process directed to the sheriff until the first meeting of the county commissioners next succeeding such vacancy, when the board shall elect a sheriff to supply the vacancy for the residue of the term, who shall possess the same qualifications, enter into the same bond, and be subject to removal, as the sheriff regularly elected.
In those counties where the office of coroner has been abolished, the chief deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then the senior deputy in years of service, shall perform all the duties of the sheriff until the county commissioners appoint some person to fill the unexpired term.
House Bill 717-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 In those counties where the office of coroner has been abolished, the chief deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then the senior deputy in years of service, shall perform all the duties of the sheriff until the county commissioners appoint some person to fill the unexpired term.
If the sheriff were elected as a nominee of a political party, the board of commissioners shall consult the county executive committee of that political party before filling the vacancy, and shall elect the person recommended by the countyexecutive committee of that party, if the party makes a recommendation within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.
If the sheriff were elected as a nominee of a political party, the board of commissioners shall consult the county executive committee of that political party before filling the vacancy, and shall elect the person recommended by the county executive committee of that party, if the party makes a recommendation within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.
and this Chapter relating to sheriffs shall apply to coroners Page 6 House Bill 717-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 clerksofcourtwhenthesheriffis aparty.Sheriffsand coronersclerksofcourtmayreturnprocess by mail.
and this Chapter relating to sheriffs shall apply to coroners clerksofcourtwhenthesheriffis aparty.Sheriffsand coronersclerksofcourtmayreturnprocess by mail.
… Coroner County At the regular election Four years, from the for members of the General first Monday in Assembly immediately December next after preceding the termination election of a regular term …." PART III.
Page 6 House Bill 717-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 … Coroner County At the regular election Four years, from the for members of the General first Monday in Assembly immediately December next after preceding the termination election of a regular term …." 9 PART III.
House Bill 717-Second Edition Page 7
House Bill 717-First Edition Page 7
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How this bill changes current law

17 changes Share ↗

Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill abolishes the office of County Coroner in North Carolina and makes several conforming changes to related statutes.

  • N.C.G.S. § 1-313

    or to the coroner → clerk of court

    This change removes the coroner as an authorized recipient of execution directives and replaces it with the clerk of court.

  • N.C.G.S. § 1-313

    of coroner when the sheriff

    This removes further references to the coroner in the context of execution directives.

  • N.C.G.S. § 1A-1

    by a coroner, or

    This removes the coroner from the list of individuals authorized to serve subpoenas.

  • N.C.G.S. § 7A-312

    or a coroner's juror,

    This changes the language regarding jurors by removing any reference to coroner's jurors.

  • N.C.G.S. § 14-230

    coroner,

    This removes the role of coroner from the list of officials who may be guilty of neglecting to discharge duties.

  • N.C.G.S. § 14-240

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the list of officials whose actions may lead to prosecution for escaping custody.

  • N.C.G.S. § 17-18

    or to a coroner;

    This removes the coroner as a person to whom an attachment against a sheriff may be directed.

  • N.C.G.S. § 17-19

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the provisions regarding precepts to bring up detained parties.

  • N.C.G.S. § 17-22

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the provision regarding calling the power of the county to aid in service execution.

  • N.C.G.S. § 17-44

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the duties and requirements related to prisoner custody.

  • N.C.G.S. § 39-5

    coroner,

    This removes any reference to the coroner in the context of executing property sales after leaving office.

  • N.C.G.S. § 58-72-10

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the list of officials required to give bonds for faithful performance of duties.

  • N.C.G.S. § 58-76-5

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the list of officers subject to liability for misconduct in office.

  • N.C.G.S. § 58-76-15

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the list of officers who could be subject to summary remedy on official bond.

  • N.C.G.S. § 58-76-25

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the context of actions against official bonds.

  • N.C.G.S. § 58-76-30

    coroner,

    This removes the coroner from the provision regarding negligence in collecting debts.

  • N.C.G.S. § 90-210.25

    the duties and authority now vested in the office of the coroner.

    This removes language that preserves the duties and authority of the coroner, indicating the office's abolition.

Action History

  1. Regular Message Received From House

  2. Passed 1st Reading

  3. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  4. Regular Message Sent To Senate

  5. Passed 2nd Reading

  6. Passed 3rd Reading

  7. Reptd Fav Com Substitute

  8. Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  9. Reptd Fav

  10. Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  11. Placed On Cal For 05/06/2021

  12. Passed 1st Reading

  13. Ref to the Com on State Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  14. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 171 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (171)

171 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 171 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Second Reading

Passed 111 Yea · 1 Nay · 8 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 26001
Unaffiliated 42003
U 1001
Republican 42103
Total 111108
% of votes cast 93%1%0%7%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
Autry — Yea
Clemmons — Yea
Cooper-Suggs — Yea
Farkas — Yea
Fisher — Yea
Gailliard — Yea
Garrison — Yea
Gill — Yea
Graham — Yea
Harris — Yea
Hunt — Yea
Hunter — Yea
Hurtado — Yea
Insko — Yea
Lucas — Yea
Martin — Yea
Richardson — Yea
Terry — Yea
vonHaefen — Yea
Wray — Yea
Boles — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bumgardner — Yea
Carter — Yea
Cleveland — Yea
Davis — Yea
Elmore — Yea
Faircloth — Yea
Hardister — Yea
Hurley — Yea
McElraft — Yea
McNeill — Yea
Mills — Yea
Moore — Yea
Rogers — Yea
Saine — Yea
Szoka — Yea
Yarborough — Yea
Johnson — Not Voting
Sasser — Not Voting
Zachary — Not Voting
C. Smith — Yea
K. Baker — Yea
K. Smith — Yea
R. Smith — Yea
Abe Jones Democratic Yea
Allison A. Dahle Democratic Yea
Amber M. Baker Democratic Yea
Amos L. Quick, III Democratic Yea
Becky Carney Democratic Yea
Brandon Lofton Democratic Yea
Brian Turner Democratic Not Voting
Carolyn G. Logan Democratic Yea
Cecil Brockman Democratic Yea
Cynthia Ball Democratic Yea
Dante Pittman Democratic Yea
Deb Butler Democratic Yea
Eric Ager Democratic Yea
Gale Adcock Democratic Yea
Garland E. Pierce Democratic Yea
Graig Meyer Democratic Yea
James Roberson Democratic Yea
Joe John Democratic Yea
Marcia Morey Democratic Yea
Mary Belk Democratic Yea
Pricey Harrison Democratic Yea
Robert T. Reives, II Democratic Yea
Shelly Willingham Democratic Yea
Terence Everitt Democratic Yea
Terry M. Brown Jr. Democratic Yea
Vernetta Alston Democratic Yea
Zack Hawkins Democratic Yea
Ben T. Moss, Jr. Republican Yea
Bobby Hanig Republican Yea
Brenden H. Jones Republican Yea
Charles W. Miller Republican Yea
Chris Humphrey Republican Yea
David Willis Republican Yea
Dean Arp Republican Yea
Dennis Riddell Republican Yea
Destin Hall Republican Yea
Diane Wheatley Republican Yea
Donna McDowell White Republican Yea
Donny Lambeth Republican Yea
Dudley Greene Republican Yea
Edward C. Goodwin Republican Yea
Erin Paré Republican Yea
Frank Iler Republican Yea
Harry Warren Republican Yea
Howard Penny, Jr. Republican Yea
Hugh Blackwell Republican Yea
Jay Adams Republican Yea
Jeff Zenger Republican Yea
Jeffrey C. McNeely Republican Yea
Jimmy Dixon Republican Yea
John A. Torbett Republican Yea
John R. Bell, IV Republican Yea
John Sauls Republican Yea
Julia C. Howard Republican Yea
Karl E. Gillespie Republican Yea
Keith Kidwell Republican Yea
Kelly E. Hastings Republican Not Voting
Kyle Hall Republican Yea
Larry C. Strickland Republican Yea
Larry W. Potts Republican Yea
Mark Brody Republican Yea
Mark Pless Republican Nay
Matthew Winslow Republican Yea
Mike Clampitt Republican Yea
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Yea
Phil Shepard Republican Yea
Ray Pickett Republican Not Voting
Sam Watford Republican Yea
Sarah Stevens Republican Yea
Steve Tyson Republican Yea
Timothy D. Moffitt Republican Yea
W. Ted Alexander Republican Not Voting
William D. Brisson Republican Yea
Carla D. Cunningham U Not Voting
Nasif Majeed U Yea

Official roll call →

A00R2____pass

Passed 111 Yea · 1 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 9000
Unaffiliated 100106
U 1000
Democratic 1001
Total 111107
% of votes cast 93%1%0%6%
How each member voted (119)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Gordon P. — Yea
Allred, Cary — Yea
Culp, Arlie — Yea
Culpepper, Bill — Yea
Daughtry, Leo — Yea
Decker, Michael P. — Yea
Dedmon, Andrew T. — Yea
Dockham, Jerry — Yea
Earle, Beverly — Yea
Easterling, Ruth — Yea
Edwards, Zeno L. — Yea
Ellis, Sam — Yea
Esposito, Theresa — Yea
Fitch, Jr., Toby — Not Voting
Fox, Stan — Yea
Gardner, Charlotte — Yea
Gibson, Pryor A. — Yea
Grady, Robert — Yea
Gray, Lyons — Yea
Gulley, Jim — Yea
Hackney, Joe — Yea
Haire, R. Phillip — Yea
Hardaway, Thomas C. — Yea
Hensley, Robert — Yea
Hiatt, Bill — Yea
Hill, Dewey — Yea
Holmes, George M. — Yea
Horn, W. James — Yea
Hunter, Howard — Yea
Hurley, Bill — Yea
Insko, Verla C. — Yea
Jarrell, Mary L. — Yea
Jeffus, Margaret M. — Yea
Justus, Larry — Yea
Kinney, Theodore J. — Yea
Kiser, Joe — Yea
Luebke, Paul — Yea
Mcallister, Mary — Yea
Mccomas, Danny — Yea
Mccombs, Gene — Yea
Mccrary, Paul — Yea
Mclawhorn, Marian N. — Yea
Mcmahan, Ed — Yea
Melton, O. Max — Yea
Michaux, Jr., Mickey — Yea
Miner, David — Not Voting
Mitchell, William F. — Yea
Moore, Richard L. — Yea
Morgan, Richard T. — Yea
Morris, Amelia A. H. — Yea
Mosley, Jane H. — Yea
Nesbitt, Martin L., Jr. — Yea
Nye, Edd — Yea
Oldham, Warren C. — Yea
Owens, Jr., William C. — Yea
Pope, Art — Yea
Preston, Jean R. — Yea
Ramsey, Liston B. — Not Voting
Rayfield, John M. — Yea
Redwine, E. David — Yea
Rogers, Richard E. — Yea
Russell, Carolyn B. — Yea
Saunders, Drew P. — Yea
Sexton, Paul W. — Yea
Sherrill, Wilma M. — Yea
Starnes, Edgar V. — Yea
Sutton, Ronnie N. — Yea
Tallent, Timothy N. — Yea
Teague, W. B. — Yea
Thomas, Scott E. — Yea
Thompson, Gregory J. — Yea
Tolson, Joe — Yea
Tucker, Russell E. — Yea
Wainwright, William L. — Yea
Walend, Trudi — Yea
Warner, Alex — Yea
Warwick, Nurham O. — Yea
Wilson, Constance K. — Yea
Wilson, William Eugene — Yea
Womble, Larry W. — Yea
Wood, Stephen W. — Not Voting
Wright, Thomas E. — Yea
Yongue, Douglas Y. — Yea
Arnold, Gene — Yea
Baddour, Philip A., Jr. — Yea
Baker, Rex — Yea
Barbee, Bobby — Not Voting
Barefoot, Daniel W. — Yea
Berry, Cherie — Yea
Black, Jim (Speaker) — Yea
Bonner, Donald A. — Yea
Bowie, Joanne — Yea
Braswell, Jerry — Not Voting
Bridgeman, John — Yea
Brown, John — Yea
Brubaker, Harold J. — Yea
Buchanan, Monroe — Yea
Cansler, Lanier — Yea
Capps, Russell — Yea
Carpenter, Jim — Yea
Church, Walter — Yea
Clary, Debbie — Yea
Cole, E. Nelson — Yea
Cox, A. Leslie — Yea
Creech, Billy — Nay
D. Davis — Yea
R. Smith — Yea
Dan Blue Democratic Not Voting
Sarah Crawford Democratic Yea
Blair Eddins Republican Yea
Charles W. Miller Republican Yea
Edward C. Goodwin Republican Yea
Harry Warren Republican Yea
Jay Adams Republican Yea
Julia C. Howard Republican Yea
Karl E. Gillespie Republican Yea
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Yea
W. Ted Alexander Republican Yea
Carla D. Cunningham U Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 717?
HB 717 is sponsored by Boles, Charles W. Miller (Republican), Hunter, Wray, Alexander, Lucas, Shelly Willingham (Democratic), and Joe John (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 717?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 717?
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