Whenever any district coroner or deputy district coroner shall be called upon to testify, by reason of his position as district coroner or deputy district coroner, in any criminal proceeding pending before any of the several courts of this state, such court shall allow the district coroner or deputy district coroner witness fees which are commensurate with such person's professional status. Any such witness fees so allowed shall be taxed as costs in the proceeding.
K.S.A. 22a-236