Guam hearing on Bill 359-38 considers new executive director to stabilize medical examiner operations

Sen. Otello Taigi convened a public hearing on Sept. 21, 2026 to consider Bill 359-38, which would add an executive director to the Office of Post Mortem Examinations to handle administrative, budgeting and procurement duties while preserving the chief medical examiner’s independent medical judgment. "So we are planning for these problems before they become a crisis," Taigi said while outlining the measure’s goals.

Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) testimony emphasized the operational need: "In 2023 alone, the office investigated 842 deaths and performed 75 autopsies," Rick Eusebio, GMHA’s chief medical officer, told the committee while reading written testimony from Dr. Jolene Huggins. Witnesses said the proposed executive director would handle hiring, contracts, facilities and supplies so forensic pathologists can focus on medical and legal determinations.

The bill lists six principal reforms: separate medical work from administration; strengthen commission oversight; keep the office operating during CME vacancies; expand temporary forensic-pathology arrangements; formalize interagency support with GMHA, the attorney general’s office, Guam Police Department and Guam Fire Department; and require a formal continuity-of-operations plan for staffing, toxicology, refrigeration, transport and emergency contracts.

Legislative staff read a fiscal observation from BBMR showing typical FY26 salary benchmarks for an executive-director role of roughly $73,000 to $93,000 and an estimated additional appropriation of about $109,009 to cover associated personnel costs if the position is created.

Committee members said they would accept further written testimony and work on bill language ahead of the November session. The hearing record remains open and the committee adjourned at 11:05 a.m.