AUTHORITY: Implementing Section 1 of "AN ACT to revise the law in relation to coroners" (Ill. Rev. Stat., 1987, ch. 31, par. 1) and authorized by Section 10 of the Illinois Police Training Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 85, pars. 510)

SOURCE: Adopted at 14 Ill. Reg. 10027, effective June 11, 1990.

SUBPART A: GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1760.101  Purpose and Scope

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the regulations set forth in this Part provide the general requirements and procedures which are applicable to all coroners.

 

Section 1760.102  Definitions

 

The following terms are defined for purposes of this Part:  

 

"Roster" means the form listing the names of all coroners completing the requirements of a course approved by the Illinois Local Governmental Law Enforcement Officers Training Board (Board or Police Training Board) under this Part, including, but not limited to, the coroner's date of appointment, his name, address, county, employment status, the name of the course and date of completion.

 

"Trainee" means the coroner who has enrolled to take a certified Board coroners basic training course and who is attending said training course at a Board approved facility prior to the completion of the course pursuant to this Part.

 

Section 1760.103  Confidentiality of Information

 

a)         Claims of confidentiality must be asserted at the time of submission in a manner prescribed by the Board, or in case of other submissions, by stamping the words "Confidential Business Information":  on each page containing such information.  If no claim is made at the time of the submission, the Board may make the information available to the public without further notice.   If a claim is asserted, the claims will be granted or denied in accordance with Board procedures.

 

b)         Claims of confidentiality for the following information will be denied:  

 

1)         Name and address of any financial assistance applicant;

 

2)         Financial data submitted to the Board in order to receive funding.

 

Section 1760.104  Veracity of Information

 

No person shall make any false or misleading statement, representation or certification of any record, or any other document filed with the Board of required by the Board.

SUBPART B: CORONER TRAINING

 

Section 1760.201  Course Requirements

 

a)         The Board, annually, shall set the minimum number of hours which contain the prescribed subjects for the minimum standard coroners training course.  An hour of instruction is defined as being 50 minutes of actual instruction, plus a 10-minute recess.

 

b)         The minimum standard coroners basic training course shall consist of 40 hours of training for 5 consecutive days.

 

c)         The minimum standard coroners basic training course, shall be offered at a Board certified academy or a Board designated mobile team training facility and shall cover the prescribed subjects with the instructional time as specified and the curriculum and instructors guides approved by the Police Training Board.  Said prescribed subjects shall include, but not be limited to, training in death scene investigation/rules of evidence, toxicology, crime laboratory services, pathology, forensic anthropology investigation, forensic odontology, vehicular deaths, budget preparation, case preparation and courtroom demeanor, and coroners inquest.

 

Section 1760.202  Minimum Requirements of the Trainee

 

a)         Regular attendance at all sessions is required.  Excused absences may be granted by the designated director or coordinator of the minimum standards coroners basic training course under certain limited circumstances beyond the trainee's control, which may include, but not be limited to, a death in a family, illness, response to a court subpoena, disability, emergency death call, or a transportation breakdown.  In order to successfully complete the course, absences must not exceed 10% of the total hours of instruction for the prescribed minimum standards coroners basic training course.

 

b)         Maintenance of an Adequate Classroom Notebook.  Trainees are required to maintain a classroom notebook. The factors to be considered in rating the notebook are neatness, legibility, accuracy and sufficiency of content.  "Adequate", for purposes of this subsection, refers to:  

 

1)         Neatness.  Requires concise organization of the notes.  All notes and handouts will be placed in the book or received during the course. Dividers into topics are required; and

 

2)         Legibility.  The trainee must put down notes in brief, clear, complete sentences, underlining the important items; and

 

3)         Accuracy.  The notes taken in class must precisely reflect the content of the class; and

 

4)         Sufficiency of content.  The trainee shall put down in a notebook in the trainee's own words the information.  The trainee should strive to achieve condensation of the material clearly and concisely.

 

c)         The trainee shall be quizzed at the end of every day of instruction. An overall pass over failure consistency is required at the end of the full course of training.

 

d)         The designated director or coordinator shall establish standards of conduct for the trainee while enrolled in the course.  This shall include demeanor, deportment and compliance with the disciplines and regulations at the course or at the location where the course is received.  Receipt of certification of the successful completion of the course from the designated director or coordinator shall be deemed proof that the trainee has complied with the requirements of this subsection.

 

Section 1760.203  Course Standards and Requirements

 

a)         The designated director or coordinator shall assume responsibility of the overall supervision of the course, including the preparation and grading of examination, rating of classroom notebooks, arranging for qualified instructors, providing, if necessary, for food or lodging for trainees where appropriate, arranging for adequate training facilities such as classrooms, props, and the conduct and discipline of the trainees.

 

b)         The designated director or coordinator shall maintain a complete record in the form of a roster on each trainee and, at the conclusion of the course, shall submit such record to the Executive Director of the Police Training Board for filing in such form as the Board may require.

 

c)         The designated director or coordinator shall make final determination as to whether a trainee has successfully passed all reasonable standards and requirements of a particular course of training.

 

d)         The designated director or coordinator shall have the responsibility of fixing reasonable fees to be charged for any training courses, including tuition and room and board where applicable. Fees shall be approved by the Police Training Board as reasonable based upon a showing that the fees represent the actual cost of the training.

 

Section 1760.204  Qualifications of Police Instructors

 

a)         The Police Training Board shall certify instructors for purposes of providing training to trainees under this Part.  The Police Training Board shall examine the educational background and/or experience to determine whether the instructor has sufficient experience and education to meet the instructional demands that will be made of him.  The instructor shall be a person of personal integrity and have a sincere interest and desire to impart his knowledge and experience to the trainees.

 

b)         The Executive Director shall decide whether a particular instructor meets the qualifications set forth above.  This decision shall be based on investigation of the credentials of the particular instructor.

 

Section 1760.205  Notification of Commission

 

Prior to entry into a minimum standards coroners basic training course, it shall be the responsibility of the trainee to provide the Police Training Board with proof of notification of commission by the Governor indicating the coroner has been appointed as coroner and is eligible to receive the minimum standards coroners basic training course.  Notification shall be in writing to the Police Training Board and must be received by the Police Training Board within fourteen (14) days prior to the implementation of the minimum standards coroners basic training course.

 

Section 1760.206  Successful Completion

 

Upon the successful completion of the minimum standards coroners basic training course, the designated director or coordinator shall notify in writing the Executive Director of the Police Training Board.  After receiving notice of the successful completion by the trainee, the Executive Director shall certify the successful completion of the minimum standards coroners basic training course.

 

Section 1760.207  Board Reporting to County Board

 

Within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the successful or unsuccessful completion of the minimum standards coroners basic training course from the designated director or coordinator, the Executive Director of the Board shall forward to the trainee and the chairman of the local county board notification that the coroner has successfully or unsuccessfully completed the minimum standards coroners basic training course.