(1) The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet may employ a board-certified forensic pathologist as the chief medical examiner who shall administer the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner and one (1) associate chief medical examiner for the Commonwealth.
(2) The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet may employ physicians licensed to practice medicine in Kentucky as county or district medical examiners to carry out the provisions of KRS 72.210 to 72.275 within the counties or district to which they are assigned by the medical examiner section. The cabinet may designate county or district health officers as county or district medical examiners and may authorize additional compensation therefor.