SB1568 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 08973 AWJ 54066 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB1568

Introduced 2/15/2019, by Sen. Sue Rezin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/3-3016

from Ch. 34, par. 3-3016

Amends Coroner Division of the Counties Code. Requires an autopsy of an infant under one year of age (rather than 2 years of age) who has died suddenly and unexpectedly and the circumstances concerning the death are unexplained following investigation (rather than just unexplained). Replaces references to sudden infant death syndrome with references to both sudden unexpected infant death and sudden infant death syndrome in provisions about reporting suspected cases and identification on the death certificate. Provides that if the cause of death is listed as sudden unexpected infant death, environmental factors, such as the condition of the infant's sleep environment, shall be noted on the death certificate when available.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing Section 3-3016 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/3-3016) (from Ch. 34, par. 3-3016)

Sec. 3-3016. Sudden unexpected infant death and sudden infant death syndrome. Where an infant under one year 2 years of age has died suddenly and unexpectedly and the circumstances concerning the death are unexplained following investigation, an autopsy shall be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches who has special training in pathology. When an autopsy is conducted under this Section, the parents or guardian of the child shall receive a preliminary report of the autopsy within 5 days of the infant's death. All suspected sudden unexpected infant death and sudden infant death syndrome Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases shall be reported to the Statewide Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome Program within 72 hours.

Death certificates shall list the cause of death as sudden unexpected infant death or sudden infant death syndrome Sudden Infant Death Syndrome where this finding is medically justified pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Department of Public Health. If the cause of death is listed as sudden unexpected infant death, environmental factors, such as the condition of the infant's sleep environment, shall be noted when available. Copies of death certificates which list the cause of death of infants under one year 2 years of age as sudden unexpected infant death or sudden infant death syndrome Sudden Infant Death Syndrome shall be forwarded to the Department of Public Health within 30 days of the death with a report which shall include an autopsy report, epidemiological data required by the Department and other pertinent data.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)