Amendment vs bill House Proposal of Amendment (UnofficialOpens in a new window) vs Act SummaryOpens in a new window

Struck = removed from the bill · added = the amendment's new text.

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HOUSE PROPOSAL OF AMENDMENT S.210 Page 1 of 2 S.210 An act relating to access to autopsy reports The House proposes to the Senate to amend the bill as follows:
83 Page 1 of 1 This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly.
In Sec.
It is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive.
1, 18 V.S.A.
It has been prepared by the staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly.
§ 505, in subsection (b), by striking out subdivision (2) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof a new subdivision (2) to read as follows:
It is not intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
(2)(A) An individual who is not authorized to receive the autopsy report pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection (b) may petition the Probate Division of the Superior Court for a copy of the autopsy report.
Act No.
The petition shall contain an affidavit attesting to the petitioner’s relationship to the decedent and the reason the petitioner is seeking the autopsy report.
83 (S.210).
The petitioner shall notify the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the State’s Attorney of the county in which the death occurred within five days after filing the petition.
An act relating to access to autopsy reports Subjects:
The Office and the State’s Attorney shall have an opportunity to respond within 14 days after notice.
Health;
If the Superior Court finds that the petitioner has demonstrated good cause for the petitioner to obtain the autopsy report, it shall order the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to provide a copy to the petitioner, in whole or in part, and may place restrictions on the petitioner’s dissemination of the copy provided.
Judiciary;
(B) In determining good cause under subdivision (A) of this subdivision (b)(2), the Superior Court shall consider:
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner;
VT LEG #388496 v.1 HOUSE PROPOSAL OF AMENDMENT S.210 Page 2 of 2 (i) the relationship of the petitioner to the decedent and decedent’s family;
autopsy report This act both codifies how disclosure of autopsy reports operates in Vermont under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and creates an additional HIPAA-compliant path for disclosure of an autopsy report through the court system.
(ii) whether the disclosure is necessary for the public evaluation of governmental performance;
It allows an individual who is not otherwise authorized to obtain an autopsy report under HIPAA to petition the Probate Division of the Superior Court for a copy of the autopsy report.
(iii) the seriousness of intrusion into the decedent and decedent family’s privacy;
This act allows the court to order the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to provide a copy of the autopsy report, in whole or part, to the petitioner upon a finding of good cause.
(iv) whether the disclosure is by the least intrusive means available, including whether and to what degree redaction of some portions of the autopsy report is appropriate;
In determining good cause, the act requires the court to consider factors such as the relationship of the petitioner to the decedent and the decedent’s family;
(v) the availability of similar information in other public records regardless of form;
the seriousness of the privacy invasion;
and (vi) whether the disclosure interferes with an ongoing criminal investigation.
and whether the disclosure interferes with an ongoing criminal investigation.
(C) Nothing in this subdivision (2) shall prohibit a petitioner from refiling a petition for a copy of an autopsy report upon a material change in information.
Effective Date:
VT LEG #388496 v.1
July 1, 2026 VT LEG #388696 v.2