As part of the investigation of any boating accident resulting in a fatality, the Chief Medical Examiner or a deputy medical examiner, an associate medical examiner or a pathologist appointed pursuant to section 19a-405, or an authorized assistant medical examiner, shall order that a blood sample be taken from the body of any person who dies as a result of such accident. Such blood samples shall be examined for the presence and concentration of alcohol by the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. To the extent provided by law, a blood or breath sample may also be obtained from any surviving operator of any vessel involved in such an accident. The blood samples obtained from the surviving operator shall be examined for the presence and concentration of alcohol and drugs by the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The results from the examination of such samples shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. Nothing in this section or section 19a-406 shall be construed as requiring such medical examiner to perform an autopsy in connection with obtaining such blood samples.
(P.A. 89-388, S. 24, 27; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 99-218, S. 6, 16; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-218 replaced the toxicological laboratory of the Department of Public Health with the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Public Safety and replaced the Department of Public Health with the Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, 1999; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.