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PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 15-1044
(Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee 2-9-15)
Sponsored by: TONI PRECKWINKLE, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
PROPOSED ORDINACE AMENDMENT
Sec. 38-132. - Advisory committee.
(a) There shall be created a Medical Examiner's Advisory Committee ("Committee") made up of 11 members appointed by the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners with the advice and consent of the Board of Commissioners. The Committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the Cook County Board of Commissioners regarding the handling, storage and final disposition of decedents under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Medical Examiner and may formulate recommendations to bring about improvement in this regard. The Committee shall keep the dignity of the deceased at the forefront of their recommendations. Members shall include, but are not limited to, at least one person from each of the following categories:
(1) A member of the medical profession;
(2) A clergyperson;
(3) A funeral director;
(4) An attorney from the Cook County State's Attorney Office;
(5) A Commissioner representing the people of Cook County One Cook County Commissioner to serve as an Ex-officio Member with voting rights. The Ex-officio Member shall serve as a liaison between the County Board and the Committee;
(6) A member of the Chicago Police Department;
(7) A representative from the Cook County Sheriff's Office; and
(8) A member of the public.
(b) Term and conditions of Office.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 38-132(b), the members of the Committee appointed under Section 38-132(a) shall be appointed for two years.
(1) Ex-officio member. The ex-officio member shall be the appointed Cook County Commissioner who shall serve as the ex-officio member for the length of the Commissioner's term.
(2) The remaining members. The remaining ten (10) members of the Committee shall serve terms as follows:
a. For the initial members whose appointments became effective July 10, 2012 or March 12, 2014:
1. Members appointed from the medical profession, funeral director profession, Chicago Police Department and Cook County Sheriff's Office categories noted in Sec. 38-132(a) whose term appointment became effective on July 10, 2012 shall serve a term that expires on April 1, 2015.;
2. Members appointed from the clergy, State's Attorney Office and public categories noted in Sec. 38-132(a) whose term appointment became effective on July 10, 2012 or March 12, 2014 shall serve a term that expires on April 1, 2016.
b. Thereafter, the members other than the ex-officio member appointed shall serve a term of two years.
1. Each member, whether initial or subsequent, shall serve until a successor is appointed.
2. Any member who is appointed to fill a vacancy, other than a vacancy caused by the expiration of the predecessor's term, shall serve until the expiration of his or her predecessor's term.
c. Other than the Ex-Officio Commissioner, a member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms unless authorized by the Board of Commissioners.
(b)(c) The members of this committee Committee shall serve without pay.
(c)(d) The members of this committee Committee shall attend meetings to be held at the Medical Examiner's Office on a quarterly basis, beginning with the third quarter of the fiscal year in which this Ordinance is enacted.
(d)(e) The committee Committee shall prepare an annual report. The report shall be distributed to the individual members of the Board of Commissioners and the President's Office before January 31 of each year. The report shall include minutes of meetings of the Advisory Committee over the past year, including a list of attendees at each meeting, a description of the matters considered during the year and any recommendations made by the Committee for improving operations of the handling, storage and final disposition of decedents brought to the Medical Examiner's Office and the Medical Examiner's service to the residents of Cook County. The Medical Examiner's Office shall provide administrative support as necessary.
(e) The members of the committee shall have a fiduciary responsibility to protect the dignity of the deceased that are brought into the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
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