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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 93-079-CCBOARD OF COUNTY COAMISSIONERS Grant County, Washington A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING GRANT } COUNTY'S POLICY FOR THE ) DISPOSITION OF INDIGENT REMAINS ) } RESOLUTION NO. 93 -79 -CC WHEREAS, RCW 36.39.030 requires the county legislative authority to ". . . provide for the disposition of the remains of any indigent person . . . who dies within the county and whose body is unclaimed by relatives or church organization;" WHEREAS, RCW 68.52.030 authorizes a county to provide certain disposition services when the surviving spouse, surviving parents or surviving adult children of the deceased are financially unable to make such provisions; WHEREAS, the State of Washington, Department of Social and Health Services, (the "State") previously provided and paid for disposition of the remains of indigent persons prior to July 1, 1993, so as to preclude the need for Grant County (the "County") to make such provision; WHEREAS, the State has declined to continue to provide such services, effective July 1, 1993; WHEREAS, the County is undergoing constant and increased pressures on its limited fiscal resources, to provide important government social services to the living, including criminal justice services, which prompt the policy choices set forth hereinafter; and RES. REGARDING THE DISPOSITION OF INDIGENT REMAINS - 1 WHEREAS, the County desires to make the wisest use of its limited fiscal resources. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Grant County Board of Commissioners (the "Commissioners") hereby enact the policy set forth herein, to provide for the disposition of the remains of indigent persons, where eligibility is established: POLICY I. ADMINISTRATION. The County Coroner shall have the primary responsibility for the administration of this Resolution and shall report to the Commissioners periodically on instances suggesting the need for clarification or revision of the procedures specified by this Resolution. The County Auditor, Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney shall assist the Coroner in the discharge of the County's responsibilities under this policy. II. APPLICATION. Any person in possession of unclaimed human remains and any person who sees human remains under circumstances suggesting that no one has assumed responsibility for them shall notify the County Coroner. If the person reporting has custody of the remains, that person shall complete the form designed and made available by the Coroner to the best of that person's ability and provide it to the Coroner. The County will not fund funeral or memorial services, or any other funeral services not enumerated herein. RES. REGARDING THE DISPOSITION OF INDIGENT REMAINS - 2 III. NOTIFICATION TO POTENTIALLY INTERESTED PARTIES. The Coroner shall, upon receipt of the subject application, attempt to notify the surviving spouse, surviving adult child(ren) and/or surviving parent(s) of the deceased and any other known surviving relative(s), friend (s) or religious organization that may desire to claim the remains and provide for disposition of same. IV. ACCEPTANCE OF COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY. The Coroner shall, after appropriate inquiry, and being unable to find any person obligated and financially able, or any other person or religious organization, willing to provide for the disposition of the body of the deceased, proceed to dispose of the remains and indicate, on the disposition portion of the form, that this has been done and whether or not a exception to the County policy on disposition has been approved by a Commissioner, or requested by a County official authorized to do so. An exception may be authorized by a Commissioner, where the Coroner determines that burial of the remains is necessary, due to extenuating circumstances, including those surrounding the death. V. PROVISION OF SERVICES AT COUNTY EXPENSE. The Coroner shall, after acceptance of County responsibility to dispose of the remains, arrange for the transportation and cremation of the remains, or for such exceptional disposition as may have been authorized pursuant to this Resolution. Transportation shall be provided by the Coroner or the entity providing services to the County, and disposition by the entity or entities who have previously agreed to provide these services to the County for a specified fee. RES. REGARDING THE DISPOSITION OF INDIGENT REMAINS - 3 VI. DISPOSITION OF REMAINS. A. Cremation: The Coroner may make the ashes of the deceased available to relatives or friends of the deceased who wish to conduct a memorial service for the deceased or to dispose of the ashes. Ashes not disposed of in this manner shall remain under the jurisdiction of the Coroner for one (1) year after receipt and, thereafter, to be interred or distributed pursuant to applicable statutes and County policies in force at the time. B. Interred Remains: The County will inter remains, where burial as an exception to this Policy is approved by a Commissioner, and release interred remains pursuant to applicable statutes and County policies in force at the time. C. Payment Of Costs Incurred: The entity providing the services approved pursuant to this Resolution shall complete the "application for payment" portion of the form, attach an invoice specifying the services provided and submit the same to the Coroner for processing with other claims pursuant to County policies in force at the time. VII. RECOUPMENT OF COUNTY EXPENSES. The County Prosecuting Attorney is authorized and requested to pursue recoupment of County expenses in cases where such effort appears to be cost effective. VIII. INTERPRETATION AND ADMINISTRATION. The Coroner will be presented with cases which do not, for any of a number of possible reasons, fall squarely within the process provided for by this Resolution. In such instances, the Coroner shall exercise discretion consistent with the intent of this resolution that the County: a) fairly meet its statutory obligation; b) with minimum expenditure of funds badly needed for other important governmental services; c) for RES. REGARDING THE DISPOSITION OF INDIGENT REMAINS - 4 cases where the statutory eligibility for service is clear; and d) where a reasonable effort to locate and notify relatives and/or religious organizations who may wish to assume the responsibility has been made within the constraints requiring promptness in disposition of the remains. Anyone aggrieved by a decision of the Coroner may petition the Commissioners in writing for an opportunity to be heard within three (3) working days of the Coroner's decision, and the Commissioners may, after hearing from the grievant and the Coroner, take such further action as they deem fit under the circumstances. The Coroner is encouraged to report cases suggesting a need for the modification of the policy embodied in this Resolution. IX. EFFECTIVE DATE: This policy shall take effect on July 1, 1993. DATED this � day of June, 1993. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON -- Helen Fancher, Chairperson Sid Winzler, Membpr Tim Snead, Member ATTEST: Clerygfy the Board )U APPROVED AS TO F P ec g Attorney RES. REGARDING THE DISPOSITION OF INDIGENT REMAINS - 5