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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
medical examiners; sudden infant death
Purpose
Requires a county medical examiner or forensic pathologist to review an infant's immunization and vaccination history in the case of sudden and unexplained infant death.
Background
Current statute requires a forensic pathologist to perform an autopsy in cases of sudden and unexplained infant death. If it is determined that an infant died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the medical examiner or forensic pathologist must notify the Department of Health Services and may retain tissue samples, specimens and other biological materials for diagnostic purposes (A.R.S. § 11-597).
SIDS is the unexplained death of an otherwise seemingly healthy baby that is less than a year old, often occurring during sleep. Although the cause is unknown, various physical and sleep factors are associated with SIDS, including brain defects, low birth weight, respiratory infection, sleeping on the stomach or side, sleeping on a soft surface, sharing a bed and overheating (Mayo Clinic).
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sudden unexpected infant deaths include deaths caused by SIDS, unknown causes and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. These deaths occur among infants less than one year old and have no immediately obvious cause. In 2022, there were about 3,700 sudden unexpected infant death cases in the United States, including 1,529 deaths from SIDS, 1,131 deaths from unknown causes and 1,040 deaths from accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (CDC).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a county medical examiner or forensic pathologist, in cases of a sudden and unexplained infant death, to review the infant's immunization and vaccination history and any countermeasures administered in the 90 days before the infant's death.
2. Requires the medical examiner or forensic pathologist to report all sudden and unexplained infant deaths to a national case registry that records sudden and unexplained infant deaths and sudden death in the young in accordance with CDC protocols.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 14, 2026
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