Section 2: Legislative Findings
The Congress finds that:

a. Families across the nation have suffered the loss of loved ones due to deaths initially classified as suicides, late-night vehicle accidents, or drug overdoses.

b. Current death-investigation systems allow local and county officials to prematurely classify deaths, potentially concealing homicide.

c. The use of elected, volunteer, or non-medically trained coroners creates conflicts of interest and undermines investigative integrity.

d. Local control of death investigations can enable corruption, evidence suppression, and denial of information to families.

e. Families deserve transparency, accountability, and access to all evidence related to the death of their loved ones.

f. Independent, state-level oversight and federal review are necessary to ensure justice and public confidence.

g. A family-led National Victims Oversight Board provides independent, non-governmental accountability while centering victims’ families.

h. Establishing a National Oversight Board composed of affected family members will provide independent review, accountability, and guidance to local law enforcement agencies and medical examiners.

i. Ensuring proper investigative resources and oversight promotes public confidence in the justice system and helps prevent misclassification of deaths.

Section 3: Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to ensure thorough investigations of all deaths initially classified as suicides, all late-night vehicle accidents, and all drug overdoses by treating them as potential homicides. This Act also establishes a National Oversight Board to review investigative findings and ensure justice for affected families.

a. Require all deaths initially classified as suicides, late-night vehicle accidents, or drug overdoses to be investigated as potential homicides;

b. Remove local and county control over such investigations in favor of state and federal oversight;

c. Establish enforceable investigative standards equal to homicide investigations;

d. Recognize and empower an existing, family-led National Victims Oversight Board;

e. Ensure families receive full access to investigative records;

f. Criminalize the intentional misclassification or cover-up of homicide as suicide;

g. Allow past cases to be reopened without limitation.

Section 5: Elimination of County Coroner Systems

a. No county or municipality may elect coroners.

b. All death investigations covered by this Act shall be overseen by a state-appointed, licensed medical doctor.

c. The use of volunteer, part-time, or non-medically licensed coroners is prohibited.

Section 7: Recognition of the National Victims Oversight Board

a. Congress recognizes the National Victims Oversight Board, which has been created and is currently led by a President who is a family member that has lost a loved one to a supposed suicide, late-night vehicle accident, or drug overdose.

b. The President shall appoint additional members of the Board, all of whom shall be family members affected by such deaths.

c. The Board may use allocated funds to hire independent forensic, legal, or medical professionals to provide technical guidance and investigative support; however, final decision-making authority shall remain solely with the family members serving on the Board.

d. The Board may review all investigative files and evidence.

e. The Board may request reinvestigation or reopening of cases.

f. The Board may issue findings and recommendations to state and federal authorities.

Reporting and Accountability

Section 8: Federal Reporting Requirement

a. All supposed suicides shall be reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

b. Required submissions include:

• Autopsy reports

• Crime scene photographs

• Forensic and toxicology results

• Investigator notes and conclusions

c. The FBI shall review each case and formally determine whether the classification is supported.

Section 9: State Control of Information

a. All investigative records shall be released and controlled by the state, not counties or municipalities.

b. No local authority may withhold, alter, or delay evidence from families.

Section 11: Funding and Resources

a. The federal government shall allocate funding to support the operations of the National Victims Oversight Board.

b. The Board may use funds to hire independent forensic, legal, or medical professionals to assist with investigations, while final authority remains with family members.

c. Additional resources shall be provided to local law enforcement agencies to support comprehensive investigations under this Act.

Section 12: Criminal Penalties for Cover-Ups

a. Any government official who knowingly misclassifies a homicide as a suicide commits:

• Accessory to murder

• Conspiracy to cover up a murder

b. Such offenses shall be prosecuted under federal law.

c. Local law enforcement agencies and medical examiners found in violation of this Act shall be subject to fines or sanctions as determined by the National Victims Oversight Board.

d. Individuals found obstructing investigations or failing to comply with the Board’s recommendations shall be subject to legal action.

Section 13: Reopening of Prior Cases

a. All cases covered under this Act may be reopened regardless of date.

b. No statute of limitations shall apply.

Section 14: Funding

Federal funds shall be allocated to support:

• State investigations

• FBI review

• Operations of the National Victims Oversight Board