Arkansas Code Title 12. Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and Military Affairs § 12-12-326. Autopsies--Line-of-duty death

(A) A member of:

(B) A sheriff or deputy sheriff of any county.

(c)(1)(A) The examiner may conduct an autopsy on any firefighter, police officer, or eligible person who dies in the line of duty as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty or within twenty-four (24) hours after participating in an emergency situation.

(B) The autopsy shall be sufficient to determine eligibility for benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act of 1976 or the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003, 42 U.S.C. § 3796 et seq., as appropriate.

(C) A report of the autopsy shall be provided to the firefighter's or police officer's commanding officer or the supervisor of the eligible person.

(2)(A) If the firefighter, police officer, or eligible person has agreed in writing to allow an autopsy under this section, that directive shall be followed unless the firefighter's, police officer's, or eligible person's spouse dictates otherwise after being notified of the prospective autopsy.

(B) If the firefighter, police officer, or eligible person has not agreed in writing to allow an autopsy under this section, the firefighter's, police officer's, or eligible person's spouse may decide whether or not an autopsy will be performed.

(C) If the firefighter's, police officer's, or eligible person's spouse chooses not to allow the autopsy:

(3)(A) If the examiner does not perform an autopsy under this section, he or she shall provide to the firefighter's or police officer's commanding officer or the supervisor of the eligible person written notice stating the reason why an autopsy was not performed.

(B) The written notice under subdivision (c)(3)(A) of this section shall include a toxicology report.