CHAPTER 13.4
REMOVAL OF DEAD BODIES
13.4-10 Removal and keeping of dead bodies
13.4-10 Removal and keeping of dead bodies
(a) Pursuant to section 27472 of the Government Code, the coroner, whenever he or she takes custody of a dead body pursuant to law, may charge and collect from the person entitled to control the disposition of the remains, as specified in section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code, the actual expense incurred by the coroner in removing the body from the place of death and keeping the body until its release to the person responsible for its internment. The charge shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00), shall not be imposed upon a person who claims and proves to be indigent, and shall not include expenses of keeping the body during the time necessary for the coroner to perform his or her duties in connection with it. The charge, if not paid, may be considered a part of the funeral expenses and paid as a preferred charge against the estate of the decedent.
(b) The coroner shall determine when the charge authorized hereby will be imposed and the amount thereof. No charge shall be imposed if private funds available to pay funeral costs would thereby be reduced so as to preclude payment of the costs from such funds. No charge shall be imposed on persons who are receiving public financial assistance.
(Ord. No. 1390, §1; Ord. No. 1434, §1)