HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03212000 - C.137 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONT A
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COSTA
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator
COUNTY
DATE: March 21, 2000
SUBJECT: Resolution for County Policy for Cremation of Resident Indigent Decedents
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS}:
ADOPT the attached resolution in the matter of County Policy for Cremation of Resident Indigent
Decedents, superseding Resolution 90/576.
BAG GRO ND/REASON FOR RE+COMME DATION :
The current disposition allowances paid by the County to private mortuaries, cemeteries and other
facilities for the disposition of remains of indigent decedents were established in 1990 and have not
been adjusted since that time. These allowances are no longer sufficient to pay for the cost of services
provided. Therefore, this resolution increases the disposition allowances paid by the County in order to
insure indigent decedents receive proper cremation or burial services in a timely and dignified manner.
This resolution calls for County allowances for disposition of remains of indigent decedents to be
adjusted on an annual bases according to changes in the consumer price index to prevent the future
erosion of such disposition allowances in real economic terms.
This resolution also clarifies the legal authority of various County agencies to authorize the disposition
of human remains and payment for such disposition.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: —YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR--,—RECOMMENDATION OF BOAR EE
w PPRONt __ OTHER
SItiNATURE{S}:
ACTION OF BOAR MarC2," 2200 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED, :OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
--`-UNANIMOUS{ABSENT - I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
- ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
-WYE$:I,II„] & IIINOES. u� �_- ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED
ABSENT: ABSTAIN-.-X_ ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact Jason Crapo,335-1031 ATTESTED larch 21. 2000
PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF
cc: CAO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
County Counsel A Y ADMINISTRATOR
Employment S Human Services Dept.
Public Administrator BY 1t.A 2L ,DEPUTY
Health Services Dept
Sherlff•Coraner
Veterans Services Officer
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CONSIDER WITH 0.137
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors on March 21, 2000, by the following vote.
AYES: SUPERVISORS GIOIA, UILREMA, DeSAULNIER and GERBER
NOES: NODE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: SUPERVISOR CANCIAMILLA
RESOLUTION NO. 2000/ 121
In the matter of County Policy
For Cremation of
Resijdent Indigent Decedents
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors RESOLVES THAT:
Under the provisions of Welfare and institutions Code Section 17009, the Contra Costa County
Board of Supervisors hereby adopts the following policies and procedures applicable to County
cremation or burial of resident indigent decedents, effective April 1, 2000.
1. County Policy. The method of County disposition of resident indigent decedents shall be by
cremation, unless the County has actual notice that a decedent (or decedent's parents in the
death of a minor) objected to cremation on religious grounds, in which case disposition shall
be by ground burial. County payment for disposition may be authorized only by one of the
following or his/her designee: the Health Services Director, the Employment and Human
Services director, the Sheriff-Coroner, or the District Attorney-Public Administrator.
Authorization for the disposition of human remains in cases of County payment may be made
by the Public Administrator, the Sheriff Coroner or the Health Services director (in his/her
capacity as the Public Guardian), or their designees, in accordance with the California Health
and Safety Code.
2. Disposition Altmance. The County will pay the following allowances for the disposition of the
deceased. These allowances may be increased only in exceptional circumstances on
approval by the County Administrator or his/her designee.
a. Cremations. Funeral directors or Cemetery directors will be allowed $250 for cremation and
interment in the case of a decedent aged seven years or older, or $180, in the case of a
decedent under seven years of age. $250 will be allowed for a memorial service in the case
of a decedent over age seven if authorized by the officer authorizing the disposition. $180 will
be allowed for a memorial service in the case of a decedent under age seven if authorized by
the officer authorizing the disposition. $250 will be allowed for the casts of an appropriate
container, body removal and administrative costs. An allowance for excess mileage may be
made in accordance with Section 2c.
b. Ground burials-in gases of Rel` iou exce torr . Funeral directors will be allowed $750 for
funeral services and burial, in cases of a decedent aged three years or older, or$305 in the
case of a decedent under three years of age. Funeral services shall include proper embalming
of the decedent,suitable clothing of the decedent, provision of a regularly manufactured, cloth
covered and trimmed casket such as a"flat square' casket, provision of a suitable memorial
service and arrangement for burial. in the event that all of these services are not provided,
the County Administrator shall authorize only a pro-rata share of the maximum allowance.
$180 will be allowed for body removal and administrative costs. An allowance for excess
mileage may be made in accordance with Section 2c. Cemetery operators will be allowed
$560, in the case of a decedent aged three years or older, or$170 in the case of a decedent
under three years of age, for providing a burial plot.
C. Excess Mile%e. Funeral directors who are reasonably required to travel more than fifteen
miles round trip to make dispositions shall be allowed reimbursement for mileage at the
mileage reimbursement rate for County employees.
d. Annual Adiuetment. All disposition allowances above shall be adjusted annually by the
Department of Employment and Human Services based on the consumer price index.
3. Reoa my tints. Any monies received by the funeral director or the cemetery operator for the
disposition of the indigent decedent from the decedents family or friends, from the decedents
Veterans Administration, Social Security or other insurance benefits or from any source, shall
be turned over to the County Treasurer, budget unit 5276.
This Resolution amends and fully supersedes Resolution No. 90/576
f hereby ow"that this Is a hue and earrod cm of
an action taken and efth".d on a slur
RESOLUTION NO. 20001 121 'o'Supervisors on the caste atom%.
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Deputy