Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): State Laws

Updated April 2008

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as "the sudden death of an infant less than one year of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation is conducted, including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene and review of the clinical history," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 4,500 infants die suddenly each year in the United States. Approximately half of these unexplained deaths are due to SIDS. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants aged one to twelve months, and is the third leading cause of infant mortality overall.

The number of children dying from SIDS has declined by more than 50 percent since 1990. One important factor credited by experts is the campaign to encourage parents to place infants on their backs to sleep. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the SIDS Alliance, and the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs have been instrumental in the campaign. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau also launched a new effort to educate childcare workers about the importance of placing babies on their backs to sleep.

Many states have laws related to sudden infant death syndrome. The laws vary significantly, both in scope and subject. Although the above definition of SIDS is common, many states' definitions vary in terms of the age at which a child may be considered to have died from SIDS. Most commonly, states have laws that provide guidance for coroners or medical examiners and set protocol for autopsies of SIDS victims. Many states also require than an expert on SIDS participate in child fatality review committees. In addition, several states have SIDS advisory councils, education programs or counseling programs. Still other states require data collection or research on SIDS. At least eleven states require special training about SIDS for child care personnel, firefighters, emergency medical technicians or law enforcement officials: Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

More Resources:
Thousands of babies die of preventable suffocation each year (SCRIPPS News Special Report December 2007)
National Sudden Infant Death Resource Center (NSIDRC)
Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome Initiative Legisbrief (March 2006)
A short paper on the newest national standard for investigating and reporting infant death.

First Letter of State A C D F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W

State

Summary of Statutes

Alabama

Ala. Code § 26-16-93 creates a State Child Death Review Team. Specifies that a pediatrician with expertise in SIDS appointed by the Alabama chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians shall be a member of the team.

Alaska

Alaska Stat. § 18-50-310 allows for the release of information to authorized representatives of organizations or foundations that counsel the next of kin of victims of SIDS.

American Samoa

Arizona

Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9-991 and §36-104 requires professional firefighters to complete training on the nature of SIDS as part of the basic training to become a firefighter.

Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-597 specifies that a forensic pathologist shall perform an autopsy in the cases of sudden and unexplained infant death in accordance with protocols adopted by the director of the department of health services. If the medical examiner or forensic pathologist determines that the infant died of SIDS, the department of health services shall be notified.

Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 36-2205 requires certified emergency medical technicians to complete training on the nature of SIDS in order to be certified.

Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 36-2291 et seq. establishes the sudden infant death advisory council. The law directs the council to assist the department of health services in developing SIDS training and educational programs and to inform the governor and the legislature of the need for specific programs regarding SIDS. The law also relates to infant death investigations, including the use of an infant death investigation checklist.

Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 41-1822 requires the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to prescribe minimum courses of training and minimum standards for training facilities for law enforcement officers. Officers must be trained on the nature of SIDS and the handling of cases involving the sudden and unexplained death of an infant.

Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 36-3501 establishes a child fatality review team in the department of health services. The director of the department of health services shall appoint members to serve staggered three year terms, including a representative of the Arizona sudden infant death advisory council.

Arkansas

Ark. Stat. Ann. § 20-15-501 et seq. creates the "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Act." The Act specifies that certain police and medical professionals with knowledge of the sudden death of a child between the ages of one week and one year, report the death to the county coroner within twenty-four hours of the discovery of the death. The county coroner shall report the death to the Division of Health of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Act also specifies certain requirements regarding the autopsy of the infant.

Ark. Stat. Ann. § 20-27-1701 et seq. creates the Arkansas Child Death Review Panel.

California

Cal. Government Code § 27491, § 27491.4, § 27491.41 and Cal. Health & Safety Code § 102865 relate to the medical examiner and autopsies when the cause of death is suspected to be SIDS. Within twenty-four hours of the autopsy, the coroner shall notify the local health officer.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1254.6 requires a hospital to provide, free of charge, information and instructional materials regarding SIDS explaining the medical effects upon infants and young children and emphasizing measures that may reduce the risk.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1596.847 prohibits a child day care facility from using or having on the premises a crib that is unsafe for any infant. This law does not apply to any antique or collectible crib provided it is not used by, or accessible to, any child in the child day care facility. The law directs the department of social services to provide information and instructional materials regarding SIDS, explaining the medical effects upon infants and young children and emphasizing measures which may reduce the risk, free of charge to any child care facility licensed to provide care to children under the age of two years. The law provides additional guidance related to the development and provision of information on SIDS.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1797.170, § 1797.171 and § 1797.213 require individuals certified as EMTs or authorized registered nurses to complete a course of training on the nature of SIDS.

Cal Health & Safety Code § 1797.193 requires firefighters to complete a course on the nature of SIDS.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 123725 et seq. defines SIDS. The law creates a SIDS Advisory council. The law directs the department to keep each county health officer advised of the most current knowledge relating to the nature and causes of SIDS. The law requires the department to contract with a person to provide regular and ongoing SIDS education and training programs for those who interact with parents and caregivers following a death from SIDS. The law also requires the department to contract with a person to produce, update, and distribute literature on SIDS for specific target populations of persons who interact with parents and caregivers following a SIDS death. When SIDS is the presumed cause of death, the law requires the local health officer to immediately contact the individual(s) who had custody and control of the infant, in order to provide information, support, referral, and follow-up services relating to SIDS. If the infant was in child care, the local health officer must immediately contact the child care provider.

Cal. Penal Code § 13519.3 requires the commission on peace officers standards and training to establish a course on the nature of SIDS and the handling of cases involving the sudden deaths of infants.

Cal. Welfare & Institutions Code § 18285 creates the Child Health and Safety Fund in the state treasury with funds from the license plate program. Money is available, upon appropriation, for programs that address child health and safety concerns, including SIDS.

Colorado

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-20.5-401 et seq. concerns the child fatality prevention system. Creates the Colorado Child Fatality Prevention Review Team which shall include one member that is a sudden infant death specialist within the state. [2005 HB 1280]

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Fla. Stat. Ann. § 383.3362 provides legislative findings and definitions related to SIDS. The law requires that basic training programs required for certification as an emergency medical technician, a paramedic, a firefighter, or a law enforcement officer must include curriculum that contains instruction on SIDS. The law relates to the medical examiner and autopsies. The law requires the Department of Health to collaborate with other agencies in the development and presentation of the SIDS training programs; maintain a database of statistics on reported SIDS deaths and analyze the data; serve as liaison and closely coordinate activities with the Florida SIDS Alliance, including the services related to the SIDS hotline; maintain a library reference list and materials about SIDS for public dissemination; provide professional support to field staff; coordinate the activities of and promote a link between the fetal and infant mortality review committees of the local healthy start coalitions, the local SIDS alliance, and other related support groups.

Fla. Stat. § 402.305 (2004) requires that child care personnel be trained to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.

Georgia

Ga. Code § 19-15-1 and § 19-15-3 relate to child fatality review committee. Deaths eligible for review include child deaths as a result of SIDS.

Guam

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Ill. Ann. Stat. ch. 55, § 5/3-3016 requires that when an infant under two years of age has died suddenly and unexpectedly, an autopsy shall be performed by a licensed physician. Requires that the parents of the child shall receive a preliminary report of the autopsy within five days of the infant's death. Also requires that all suspected SIDS cases shall be reported to the Statewide SIDS Program within seventy-two hours.

Indiana

Ind. Code Ann. § 16-31-3-2 requires individuals seeking certification to provide emergency medical services to meet certain minimum requirements, including successfully completing a basic course on SIDS.

Ind. Code Ann. § 36-8-10.5-7 requires the minimum basic training requirements for full-time firefighters and volunteer firefighters to include successful completion of a basic course on SIDS.

Ind. Code Ann. § 12-17.2-3.5-5.5 requires that licensed child care providers receive certification that they have completed a training course on safe sleeping practices.

Ind. Code Ann. § 5-2-8-1 et seq. provides that a county law enforcement agency program shall provide to each law enforcement office continuing education, including the response to a sudden, unexpected infant death.

Ind. Code Ann. § 36-2-14-6.7 makes specifications regarding the autopsy of a child who may have died from sudden infant death syndrome.

Iowa

Iowa Code Ann. § 331.802 specifies that a summary of the findings from an autopsy of a child under the age of two years, whose death results from an unknown cause or if the circumstances surrounding the death indicate that SIDS may have been the cause of death, shall be transmitted by the physician who performed the autopsy to the county medical examiner. This report shall also be given to the parent of the child.

Iowa Code Ann. § 135.43 establishes the Iowa Child Death Review Team and specifies that the review team shall include a certified or licensed professional who is knowledgeable concerning sudden infant death syndrome.

Kansas

Kan. Stat. Ann. § 22a-242 provides that when a child dies, any law enforcement officer or health care provider, having knowledge of the death shall immediately notify the coroner. The coroner shall investigate the death and direct a pathologist to perform an autopsy. A coroner shall not make a determination that the death of a child less than one year of age was caused by SIDS unless an autopsy is performed.

Kentucky

Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 72.025 requires a coroner to perform a post-mortem examination when the death of an infant appears to be caused by SIDS in that the infant has no previous medical history to explain the death.

Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 213.011 defines SIDS.

Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 213.161 creates a SIDS program in the Cabinet for Health Services to obtain information which may be useful to research organizations studying the causes and incidence of the SIDS.

Louisiana

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 33:1563 directs a coroner to perform an autopsy in all cases of infants under the age of one year who die unexpectedly without explanation. If the coroner finds the cause of death to be SIDS, he shall notify the director of the parish health unit within forty-eight hours after such determination.

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 40:2019 provides specifications for child death investigations and establishes the Child Death Review Panel. Requires a health professional with expertise in SIDS be appointed to the Panel from a list of three names submitted by the Louisiana State Medical Society.

Maine

Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 22 § 3025 specifies the circumstances of death that must be reported, including cases of sudden infant death syndrome deaths and all other deaths of children under the age of 18 unless clearly certifiable by an attending physician as due to specific natural causes unrelated to abuse or neglect.

Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 22 § 261 establishes a multidisciplinary panel to review maternal and infant deaths through access to relevant data. [2005 Me Public Law 467; HB 984]

Maryland

Md. Health-General Code Ann. § 5-701 et. seq establishes the Child Fatality Review Team. Requires a representative of State SIDS Information and Counseling Program to be on the Child Fatality Review Team.

Massachusetts

Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 38, § 2A establishes state and local Child Fatality Review Teams and provisions for these teams. Requires that the director of the Massachusetts Center for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or his designee be a member of the state team and each local team.

Michigan

Minnesota

Minn. Stat. Ann. § 144.07 allows the commissioner to promote programs and services available for parents and families of victims of SIDS; and collect and report to the legislature the most current information regarding the frequency and causes of SIDS.

Minn. Stat. Ann. § 144.222 provides specifications for fetal death reports. Requires that each infant death which is diagnosed as SIDS be reported within five days to the state registrar.

Minn. Stat. Ann. § 245A.1435, § 245A.144, § 245A.1444, § 245A.40, and § 245A.50 requires licensed foster care providers that care for infants to document that before staff persons, caregivers, and helpers assist in the care of infants, they receive training on reducing the risk of SIDS. The training on reducing the risk of SIDS may be provided as orientation training, as initial training, as in-service training, or as ongoing training. Training required under this section must be completed at least once every five years.

Minn. Stat. Ann. § 390.11 requires that all sudden or unexpected deaths must be promptly reported to the coroner or medical examiner for evaluation, including unexpected deaths of children.

Minn. Stat. Ann. § 145.898 provides that the Department of Health shall develop uniform investigative guidelines and protocols for coroners and medical examiners conducting death investigations and autopsies of children under two years of age.

Mississippi

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-61-65 requires the medical examiner to perform death scene investigations for all unexplained infant deaths. Requires that when the circumstances described in § 41-61-59 (2j) are met, an autopsy be performed and the report of findings be given to the Department of Health, the infant's attending physician, and the local SIDS coordinator. [2003 HB 998]

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-61-59 requires that the medical examiner be notified of any death of a child under the age of two years where death results from an unknown cause or where circumstances surrounding the death indicate that SIDS may be the cause of death.

Miss. Code Ann. § 41-111-1 creates the Child Death Review Panel and specifies that a representative from the State SIDS Alliance be a member.

Missouri

Mo. Ann. Stat. § 194.117 requires that any person who has knowledge of the death of a child under the age of one year and over the age of one week, where the child died suddenly, to notify the county coroner or medical examiner. All such deaths shall be autopsied by a certified child death pathologist and the results shall be given to the state department of health and senior services. Allows the department of health and senior services to receive grants or other aid for research to determine the cause and prevention of deaths caused by SIDS.

Montana

Mont. Code § 50-15-411 relates to the medical examiner and autopsies. The law provides legislative findings and declares that SIDS is a serious problem within Montana and that public interest is served by research and study of SIDS and its potential causes and indications.

Mont. Code Ann. § 50-15-412 specifies that when the coroner's findings are consistent with SIDS, the coroner may state on the death certificate that SIDS was the cause of death.

Nebraska

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-2606 specifies that child care providers who are required to be licensed under § 71-1911 receive training and information on SIDS.

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-605, § 23-1824 require that no cause of death shall be certified in the case of the sudden and unexpected death of a child between the ages of one week and three years until an autopsy has been performed by a qualified pathologist.  The law does not allow a death certificate to cite SIDS as the cause of death until such an autopsy is performed.

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-605.04 relates to SIDS reporting requirements, and requires the Nebraska Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Foundation be notified of the name of the parents of the SIDS victim.

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-2101 et. seq defines SIDS and shaken baby syndrome. Prior to hospital release new parents are required to view a video presentation and read materials on SIDS and shaken baby syndrome, and sign a release that they have either done so or refused to.  The law also designates the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct public awareness activities aimed at SIDS and shaken baby syndrome prevention.

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-1902  requires the Department of Education and the Department of Health to distribute a packet of information to all parents of children born after January 1, 2003 that includes information on the prevention of SIDS.

Nevada

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 440.420, § 440.435, § 440.437 specifies that in cases where the cause or suspected cause of a death is SIDS, that the coroner may authorize the performance of a postmortem examination. The findings shall be summarized and included with the coroner's record of death. This report shall be filed with the state registrar. The state registrar shall annually report the number of cases in which the cause of death was determined to be SIDS.

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 432B.405 specifies the purpose of organizing child death review teams and provides that a multidisciplinary team review the death of a child if the child dies of SIDS.

New Hampshire

N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 611-B:22 specifies that in any case in which a child whose death is determined to have been the result of sudden unexplained infant death, the supervising medical examiner shall file a record of the case with the bureau of maternal and child health.

New Jersey

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:5D-2 provides legislative findings related to SIDS. The law calls for a program to be established for identifying and treating infants who are potential victims of SIDS, referring potential SIDS victims and their families to sources of treatment and counseling, referring families whose children have been victims of SIDS to counseling and other support services and providing an educational program to health care professionals to heighten their awareness in detecting potential SIDS victims and in preventing SIDS.

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:5D-3 directs the commissioner of the Department of Health to establish a program to educate the public and health care professionals about SIDS. The law requires the program to include a referral service for the public and health care professionals on SIDS related services and a 24-hour telephone hotline to provide needed information and referrals. The law also directs the commissioner to encourage the development of local support programs to provide early detection, counseling, and referrals for infants who may be at risk of SIDS.

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:5D-4 directs the commissioner of the Department of Health to establish a SIDS Resource Center within a state medical school. The law requires the SIDS Resource Center to serve as a technical advisory center. The center may offer diagnostic procedures, medical treatment and counseling, as well as any other services that may be necessary to assist potential SIDS victims and their families.

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 52:17B-88 requires that when the suspected cause of death of a child under one year of age is SIDS or the child is between one and three years of age and the death is sudden and unexpected, upon the request of the parent, a pediatric pathologist shall assist in performance of the autopsy. The findings and conclusions shall be reported to the child's parents and the State Department of Health and Senior Services within forty-eight hours after the death of the child.

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 52:17B-88.10 et seq. directs the state medical examiner with the commissioner of Health and Senior Services to develop standardized protocols for autopsies performed in cases in which the suspected cause of death of a child under one year of age is SIDS and in which the child is between one and three years of age and the death is sudden and unexpected. The medical examiner shall also establish a sudden child death autopsy protocol committee to assist in developing and reviewing the protocol.

New Mexico

New York

N.Y. Public Health Law § 2500-b directs the commissioner to establish a program to study SIDS, which may consist of pilot projects. Such projects include epidemiological investigation, family counseling and evaluation in order to identify the major risk factors in sudden infant deaths with the objective of preventing such deaths.

N.Y. Public Health Law § 4210 directs the commissioner to adopt regulations to establish standard autopsy protocols for any person under the age of one year who dies under circumstances in which death is not anticipated by medical history or the cause is unknown. In developing and implementing these protocols, the commissioner shall consult with a pediatrician with expertise in SIDS and the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Program.

North Carolina

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 110-91 (2004) requires child care facilities to develop a safe sleep policy that requires caregivers to place children on their backs when sleeping in order to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1402 creates the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force and specifies that a representative from a SIDS counseling and education program be a member.

North Dakota

N.D. Cent. Code § 11-19.1-11 and § 11-19.1-13 requires that upon the death of a child whose cause of death is suspected to be SIDS and after consultation with the parent, an autopsy shall be performed by a qualified pathologist. The parents and the state health officer shall be promptly notified of the results of the autopsy.

N.D. Cent. Code § 23-01-05 requires the state health officer to establish a program to provide information to the surviving family of a child whose cause of death is suspected to have been SIDS.

Ohio

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 313.121 requires that if a child under two years of age dies suddenly when in apparent good health, the death shall be reported immediately to the coroner and an autopsy shall be performed. The law also requires the health department to offer the parent any counseling or other supportive services it has available. The state department of health must ensure that current information on SIDS is available for distribution by health districts and departments.

Oklahoma

Okla. Stat. tit. 63 § 949 (2004) requires the Chief Medical Examiner to track and forward records of sudden infant death syndrome and other sudden, unexpected, and nontraumatic infant deaths to the Oklahoma SIDS coordinator at the Department of Health and SIDS Foundation of Oklahoma.

Oregon

Or. Rev. Stat. § 431.120 requires the department of human services to routinely conduct epidemiological investigations for SIDS cases.

Pennsylvania

Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. tit. 16 § 1237 and § 4236 provides that the coroner shall perform an investigation to determine whether or not an autopsy should be conducted in cases of sudden infant death syndrome.

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

S.C. Code Ann. § 17-5-540 requires the coroner or medical examiner, within twenty-four hours or one working day, to notify the Department of Child Fatalities when a child's death is unexpected and unexplained including, but not limited to, possible SIDS.

S.C. SB 391 Act No. 52 (2007) permits the medical examiner to request an autopsy if a child's death is a result of SIDS.

South Dakota

S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 23-14-18 requires the county coroner to investigate, at their discretion, all deaths of children under two years of age resulting from an unknown cause or if the circumstances surrounding the death indicate that SIDS may be the cause of death.

Tennessee

Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-1-1101 creates the Sudden, Unexplained Child Death Act. The law provides legislative findings and definitions.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-1-1102 requires that all emergency medical technicians, professional firefighters and all law enforcement officers receive training on handling of cases of sudden, unexplained child death. The training, which must be developed jointly by the departments of health and children's services, must include the importance of being sensitive to the grief of family members. The law also provides that in the case of every sudden, unexplained death of an infant less than one year of age, an autopsy shall be performed by a child death pathologist. Parents who refuse to allow an autopsy on religious grounds can file a petition for an emergency court hearing. The law requires that local law enforcement conduct a death scene investigation according to protocol developed by the chief medical examiner.

Tenn. Code Ann. §68-1-1103 requires the commissioner of health to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to all information relating to the occurrence of a sudden unexplained child death. The law relates to SIDS reporting and research. The commissioner must cause appropriate counseling services to be established and maintained for families affected by the occurrence of SIDS. The commissioner must conduct educational programs to inform the general public of any research findings, which may lead to the possible means of prevention, early identification, and treatment of SIDS.

Tenn. Code § 68-3-502 specifies that SIDS shall not be listed as the cause of death unless the death meets the definitions provided in § 68-1-1103.

Texas

Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 673.001 et seq. requires that the death of a child 12 months old or younger shall be immediately reported to the justice of the peace, medical examiner, or other proper official if the child dies suddenly or is found death and if the cause of death is unknown. An autopsy shall be performed on the child. The law also directs the department to develop a model program that can be used to provide information and follow-up consultation about SIDS and its characteristic grief-guilt reaction. According to the law, the program should humanize and maximize understanding and the handling of SIDS. The law requires the department to distribute the program to proper agencies, governmental bodies, officials, physicians, nurses, health professionals, and citizens. The department may appoint an advisory committee to provide assistance in developing the program.

Tex. Human Resources Code Ann. § 42.0421 requires minimum training standards for employees of licensed day-care centers or group day-care homes that provide care for children up to age 24 months to receive special training regarding the care of those children. The training must include information on preventing SIDS. The law requires an operator of a registered family home who provides care for a child up to age 24 months to complete one hour of annual training on certain relevant issues including preventing SIDS.

Tex. Human Resources Code Ann. § 42.055 requires that each child care facility post in a location that is conspicuous to all employees and customers a sign that includes a brief description of SIDS.

Tex. Family Code Ann. § 264.502 et seq. specifies that the Child Fatality Review Team Committee include a SIDS family service provider.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Utah

Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-2 and § 26-4-7 define SIDS and require that the medical examiner assume custody of a deceased body if it appears that the death was due to SIDS.

Vermont

Virginia

Va. Code § 32.1-283, §32.1-283.1 et seq., § 32.1-285 and § 32.1-285.1 define SIDS and require that the medical examiner be notified and perform an autopsy in cases of the sudden death of any infant less than eighteen months of age whose death is suspected to be attributable to SIDS. Establishes a state child fatality review team and provides that the team shall review sudden child deaths occurring within the first eighteen months of life. Provides for members, including one representative from the Virginia Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance be appointed for a term of three years.

Washington

Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 43.103.100 directs the council to research and develop an appropriate training component on the subject of sudden, unexplained child death, including but not limited to SIDS. The law lists the training components, which include medical information on SIDS for first responders; information on community resources and support groups available to assist families who have lost a child to SIDS; and the value of timely communication between the county coroner and the public health department. The law requires the council to work with volunteer groups with expertise in the area of sudden, unexplained child death, including but not limited to the SIDS foundation of Washington and the Washington association of county officials. The law requires the basic training for death investigators to include a module that specifically addresses the investigation of the sudden unexplained deaths of children under the age of three. Directs the council to develop a protocol for autopsies of children under the age of three whose deaths are sudden and unexplained.

West Virginia

W. Va. Code § 16-1-6 directs the commissioner to provide a program for the care, treatment and rehabilitation of the parents of SIDS victims. The law also requires that the commissioner provide for the training and employment of personnel to provide the requisite rehabilitation of parents of SIDS victims. The commissioner is required to educate the public about SIDS and is responsible for reporting to the legislature the incidence of SIDS cases occurring in West Virginia. The commissioner must provide for the education of police, employees and volunteers of all emergency services concerning SIDS. The commissioner must also require the state SIDS advisory council to develop regional family support groups to provide peer support to families of SIDS victims. The commissioner must request appropriation of funds in both federal and state budgets to fund the SIDS program.

W. Va. Code § 16-1-7 directs the commissioner to serve on the SIDS advisory council.

W. Va. Code § 61-12-10 specifies that in cases of the death of any infant where SIDS is the suspected cause of death and the medical examiner considers it advisable to perform an autopsy, it is the duty of the medical examiner to notify the SIDS program within the division of maternal and child health.

W. Va. Code § 49-5D-5 establishes a child fatality review team under the office of the chief medical examiner. Provides that the child fatality review team is a multidisciplinary team created to review the deaths of children under the age of eighteen years and shall include one representative of the Sudden Infant Death Program of the Office of Maternal and Child Health.

Wisconsin

Wis. Stat. Ann. § 48.67 and § 49.155 direct the department to establish requirements and minimum standards for child welfare agencies, day care centers, foster homes, treatment foster homes, group homes, shelter care facilities, and county departments. The minimum requirements must include a training component on the most current medically accepted methods of preventing SIDS.

Wis. Stat. Ann. § 253.14 directs the department to prepare and distribute printed informational materials relating to SIDS. The materials must be directed toward the concerns of parents of victims of SIDS and will be distributed to maximize availability to the parents. The law requires that the department make available upon request follow-up counseling by trained health care professionals for parents and families of victims of SIDS.

Wis. Stat. Ann. § 979.03 requires that if a child under the age of two years dies suddenly and unexpectedly under circumstances indicating that the death may have been caused by SIDS, the coroner or medical examiner shall notify the child's parents that an autopsy will be performed unless the parents object. The parents of the child shall be promptly notified of the cause of death and of the availability of counseling services.

Wyoming

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
Note: List may not be comprehensive, but is representative of state laws that exist. NCSL appreciates additions and corrections.

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