DOVER, Del. (AP) - A bill abolishing the office of chief medical examiner and replacing it with a new division of forensic science is on its way to a vote in the state Senate.
The bill was reported out of the Senate Health and Social Services committee Wednesday.
The legislation was prompted by a scandal involving evidence tampering and theft at the state drug testing lab, which is part of the medical examiner's office. Two employees of the medical examiner's office have been arrested, and the chief medical examiner is suspended with pay as officials investigate possible misuse of state resources.
The proposed reorganization gives the chief medical examiner less independence and job security and would shift oversight from the Department of Health and Social Services to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.