Sonora, CA — The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors has approved a decedent removal fee on behalf of the Sheriff´s Department.
By law, sheriff-coroners investigate and aid in the removal of almost all deceased bodies in the county. The decedent´s next of kin will now be charged between $125 to $250, depending upon how many funeral home workers are needed for the removal.
In the past, funeral homes have billed the Sheriff´s Department. This new ordinance will change the billing from having the Sheriff´s Department and county taxpayers pay to having the responsible parties be charged.
The rules do not apply if the death is of a person under the age of 14, the individual is indigent or if the person dies as a result of a criminal act.
Some of the new funding will go to purchase equipment, as well as increase training for those involved with the process.
Written by BJ Hansen
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 1:47 pm