Effective 28 Aug 1978

58.760. Election to adopt, when — form of ballot — transition provisions (certain counties). — 1. The provisions of sections 58.010, 58.020, 58.060, 58.090, 58.160, 58.375, 58.451, 58.455 and 58.700 to 58.765 may be adopted by any other county of this state after approval by a vote of the people of the county. The governing body of the county may make an order presenting the question for the establishment of a county medical examiner and shall, upon a petition signed by a number of voters in the county equal to five percent of the total vote cast in the county at the last preceding election for governor requesting an election on the question, submit the proposition at an election.

2. The proposition shall be submitted in substantially the following form:

Shall the office of county medical examiner be established?

3. If a majority of those voting on the question vote for the adoption of a county medical examiner, the provisions of sections 58.010, 58.020, 58.060, 58.090, 58.160, 58.375, 58.451, 58.455 and 58.700 to 58.765 shall apply to the county.

4. The coroner in any county adopting sections 58.010, 58.020, 58.060, 58.090, 58.160, 58.375, 58.451, 58.455 and 58.700 to 58.765 in office at the time the county adopts sections 58.010, 58.020, 58.060, 58.090, 58.160, 58.375, 58.451, 58.455 and 58.700 to 58.765 shall not be removed from office during the remainder of the term of office for which he was elected, but upon the expiration of his term, or upon his death or resignation, the office of coroner is abolished in the county and a county medical examiner shall be approved as provided in sections 58.010, 58.020, 58.060, 58.090, 58.160, 58.375, 58.451, 58.455 and 58.700 to 58.765.

5. As used in sections 58.700 through 58.765 in reference to any county of the first class composed entirely of a city with a population of more than six hundred thousand, the term "governing body of the county" means the mayor of such city, and the terms "city medical examiner" or "assistant city medical examiner" shall be used in lieu of "county medical examiner" or "assistant county medical examiner".

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(L. 1973 S.B. 122 § 16, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)

(1975) Language "any other county" includes city of St. Louis. This section does not violate Art. VI § 22 Const. of Mo., State ex rel. McClellan v. Godfrey (Mo.), 519 S.W.2d 4.