Florida Statute 406.12 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIX
PUBLIC HEALTH

Chapter 406
MEDICAL EXAMINERS; DISPOSITION OF HUMAN REMAINS

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F.S. 406.12

406.12 Duty to report; prohibited acts.—

(1) It is the duty of any person in the district where a death occurs, including all municipalities and unincorporated and federal areas, who becomes aware of the death of any person occurring under the circumstances described in s. 406.11 to report such death and circumstances forthwith to the district medical examiner or to a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the location.

(2) Any person who knowingly fails or refuses to report such death and circumstances as required under subsection (1) or who refuses to make available prior medical or other information pertinent to the death investigation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(3) Any person who, with the intent to conceal such death or to alter the evidence or circumstances surrounding such death:

(a) Violates subsection (2); or

(b) Without an order from the office of the district medical examiner, willfully touches, removes, or disturbs the body, clothing, or any article upon or near the body,

commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.—s. 7, ch. 70-232; s. 353, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 2024-135.

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Amendments to 406.12

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 406.12

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S406.12 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - FAIL TO REPORT DEATH TO MEDICAL EXAMINER - M: F

Cases Citing Statute 406.12

Total Results: 6