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Substitute House Bill No. 6733

Public Act No. 23-31 35 of 74

examiner. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a father or mother when a birth occurs outside an institution and a physician or midwife is not in attendance at such birth, as described in subsection (c) of section 7-48. [(b)] (c) Such certificate shall include, on a confidential portion of the certificate, any additional information required by the department, provided the information obtained under this section shall be used only for medical and health purposes. Sec. 22. Subsection (a) of section 19a-403 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): (a) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is established to be operated under the control and supervision of the commission. The expenses of the commission and of operating said office shall be paid by the state out of funds appropriated for the purpose. The office shall be directed by a Chief Medical Examiner who shall be appointed by the commission. [His] The office shall be located at a medical school in this state. The Chief Medical Examiner or any member of the professional staff of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner who is summoned to give expert testimony in a civil action in his or her capacity as the Chief Medical Examiner or a member of the office shall be allowed and paid a witness fee of five hundred dollars for each day or portion thereof the Chief Medical Examiner or such staff member is required to attend court. Such fee shall be taxed as a part of the costs of the action and be paid by the party requesting the appearance, and any such fee received shall be deposited in the General Fund except no fee shall be imposed if the requesting party is the state. Sec. 23. Section 19a-404 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023):