Bill Text: CA AB345 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 345 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Counties: coroners.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB345 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB345-Introduced.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 345	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Pan

                        FEBRUARY 13, 2013

   An act to amend Section 27472 of the Government Code, relating to
local government.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 345, as introduced, Pan. Counties: coroners.
   Existing law authorizes a coroner, upon authorization by the
county board of supervisors, to charge and collect the actual expense
incurred by the coroner in removing the body from the place of death
and keeping the body until its release, from the person entitled to
control the disposition of the remains, as specified. Existing law
prohibits the charge in cases in which the coroner ascribes the death
to the criminal act of another, unless the coroner has reasonable
grounds to believe that the deceased was involved in any criminal
activity that contributed to his or her own death.
   This bill would instead prohibit the charge in cases in which the
law enforcement agency investigating the death ascribes the death to
the criminal act of another, unless the law enforcement agency
investigating the death has reasonable grounds to believe that the
deceased was involved in any criminal activity that contributed to
his or her own death.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 27472 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   27472.  If authorized by the county board of supervisors by
ordinance, 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
interment. The charge shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100),
 and  shall not be imposed upon a person who claims and
proves to be indigent,  or  in cases in which the
body is that of a child not more than 14 years of age  ,  or
in cases in which the  coroner   law
enforcement agency investigating the death  ascribes the death
to the criminal act of another unless the  coroner 
 law enforcement agency investigating the death  has
reasonable grounds to believe that the deceased was involved in any
criminal activity  which   that 
contributed to his or her own death. The charge 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.