Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 6.52 Department of Medical Examiner

(Ord. 2026-0010 §§ 12, 13, 2026; Ord. 2026-0002 §§ 15, 16, 2026; Ord. 2025-0040 § 9, 2025; Ord. 2025-0028 §§ 13, 14, 2025; Ord. 2025-0001 § 16, 2025; Ord. 2024-0047 §§ 6, 7, 2024; Ord. 2024-0034 §§ 18—20, 2024; Ord. 2024-0002 § 11, 2024; Ord. 2023-0049 § 4, 2023; Ord. 2023-0042 §§ 7—9, 2023; Ord. 2023-0040 §§ 4, 5, 2023; Ord. 2023-0033 §§ 15—17, 2023; Ord. 2023-0016 § 7, 2023; Ord. 2023-0012 §§ 18, 19, 2023; Ord. 2022-0050 §§ 4, 5, 2022; Ord. 2022-0049 §§ 14, 15, 2022; Ord. 2022-0043 §§ 5, 6, 2022; Ord. 2022-0037 §§ 13, 14, 2022; Ord. 2022-0015 §§ 10, 11, 2022; Ord. 2021-0068 §§ 9, 10, 2021; Ord. 2021-0052 § 8, 2021; Ord. 2021-0027 §§ 11, 12, 2021; Ord. 2020-0069 § 6, 2020; Ord. 2020-0055 §§ 17, 18, 2020; Ord. 2020-0044 §§ 4, 5, 2020; Ord. 2020-0038 §§ 19, 20, 2020; Ord. 2019-0052 § 7, 2019; Ord. 2019-0041 §§ 22, 23, 2019; Ord. 2019-0035 §§ 15, 16, 2019; Ord. 2018-0050 § 11, 2018; Ord. 2018-0012 §§ 7, 8, 2018; Ord. 2017-0026 §§ 16-18, 2017; Ord. 2017-0014 §§ 3, 4, 2017; Ord. 2017-0006 §§ 12, 13, 2017; Ord. 2016-0041 § 11, 2016; Ord. 2016-0025 §§ 9, 10, 2016; Ord. 2016-0006 §§ 4, 5, 2016; Ord. 2015-0015 §§ 4, 5, 2015; Ord. 2015-0002 §§ 12-14, 2015; Ord. 2014-0041 §§ 17, 18, 2014; Ord. 2014-0026 §§ 15-17, 2014; Ord. 2014-0002 § 11, 2014; Ord. 2013-0038 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2013-0032 § 23, 2013; Ord. 2013-0008 §§ 3, 4, 2013; Ord. 2012-0058 § 13, 2012; Ord. 2012-0035 § 12, 2012; Ord. 2012-0026 §§ 13, 14, 2012; Ord. 2012-0002 § 6, 2012; Ord. 2011-0036 § 19, 2011; Ord. 2010-0046 § 7, 2010; Ord. 2010-0041 §§ 12, 13, 2010; Ord. 2010-0031 §§ 21, 22, 2010; Ord. 2010-0002 §§ 10, 11, 2010; Ord. 2009-0023 §§ 19, 20, 2009; Ord. 2008-0036 §§ 9, 10, 2008; Ord. 2008-0025 §§ 29-30, 2008; Ord. 2007-0099 §§ 12-14, 2007; Ord. 2007-0059 § 13, 2007; Ord. 2007-0049 §§ 54- 56, 2007; Ord. 2006-0077 §§ 27, 28, 2006; Ord. 2006-0053 § 2 (part), 2006.)

A.

Medical Examiner—Physician Recruitment Incentive.

Definitions:

a.

Medical Examiner shall mean the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner.

b.

Eligible Physician shall mean an individual hired or appointed on or after July 1, 2019, as a Senior Physician (Item No. 5456A) or Physician Specialist (Item Nos. 5476A and 5476C) in the medical specialty of Pathology, Forensic and who is continuously assigned during the relevant time period to the Medical Examiner on a full-time monthly permanent basis as defined in Section 6.28.020.B. If an overall rating of "Needs Improvement" or "Unsatisfactory" is filed with the Director of Personnel, the physician's status as an Eligible Physician shall be terminated. A physician who has received reimbursement under Section 6.52.020.B. or who is hired or appointed on or after January 1, 2022, is not an Eligible Physician for the purposes of this Section 6.52.020.A.

c.

Qualifying Service shall mean time spent in active on-the-job performance as an Eligible Physician and includes approved leave of up to two weeks in any six-month period. Service in any other County job classification, in an acting capacity, in a County assignment other than the Medical Examiner, or assignment to the Medical Examiner on other than a full-time basis, shall not qualify as Qualifying Service. Qualifying Service shall be tolled during an approved leave of absence exceeding two weeks in any six-month period, unless such tolling is prohibited by applicable law.

Requirements to Qualify for a Recruitment Incentive. An Eligible Physician may receive a recruitment incentive bonus under the following conditions and subject to the following limitations:

a.

Six-Month Incentive. Beginning January 1, 2020, in addition to the compensation established for these classifications, an Eligible Physician who (i) completes six months of continuous Qualifying Service commencing on the physician's date of hire or appointment and assignment to the Medical Examiner, and (ii) has a departmental performance evaluation that is an overall rating of "Competent" or better during the relevant time period shall receive a one-time lump sum payment of $10,000. If the Eligible Physician ceases to be an Eligible Physician for any reason before completion of six months of continuous Qualifying Service, no part of this incentive bonus shall be paid. The tolling of Qualifying Service due to an approved leave of absence in accordance with Section 6.52.020.A.1.c., will not result in a break in the continuity of Qualifying Service. The period of tolling shall not be counted in calculating the six-month period under this provision. Only one incentive bonus under this subsection is payable to each Eligible Physician during his or her County employment.

b.

One-Year Incentive. Beginning July 1, 2020, in addition to the compensation established for these classifications and the incentive bonus provided for in Section 6.52.020.A.2.a., an Eligible Physician who (i) completes one year of continuous Qualifying Service commencing on the physician's date of hire or appointment and assignment to the Medical Examiner, and (ii) has a departmental performance evaluation that is an overall rating of "Competent" or better, shall receive a one-time lump sum payment of $20,000. If the Eligible Physician ceases to be an Eligible Physician for any reason before completion of one year of continuous Qualifying Service, no part of this incentive bonus shall be paid. The tolling of Qualifying Service due to an approved leave of absence in accordance with Section 6.52.020.A.1.c. will not result in a break in the continuity of Qualifying Service. The period of tolling shall not be counted in calculating the one-year period under this provision. Only one incentive bonus under this subsection b. is payable to each Eligible Physician during his or her County employment.

c.

The incentive payments authorized under this Section 6.52.020.A. shall be paid to Eligible Physicians within 30 days of the issuance of a departmental performance evaluation that is an overall rating of "Competent" or better for the Qualifying Service period, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the required Qualifying Service is completed. The departmental performance evaluation shall be issued within 60 days of the completion

of the Qualifying Service period, but in no event later than February 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the required Qualifying Service is completed.

d.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, incentive payments authorized under this Section 6.52.020.A. shall be made subject to any additional conditions approved by the Chief Executive Office.

e.

Payments made pursuant to this Section 6.52.020.A. shall not constitute a base rate.

f.

In no event shall a physician receive both a recruitment incentive pursuant to this Section 6.52.020.A. and the student loan payment reimbursement incentive pursuant to Section 6.52.020.B. during his or her County employment.

g.

In no event shall a physician hired or appointed on or after January 1, 2022, be entitled to a recruitment incentive pursuant to this Section 6.52.020.A.

h.

The Medical Examiner reserves the right to terminate the recruitment incentive for new hires at any time due to the lack of available funding, provided that a current Eligible Physician who qualifies for a recruitment incentive pursuant to this Section 6.52.020.A. at the time the recruitment incentive is terminated may continue to qualify for the recruitment incentive on the same basis, as provided for in Section 6.52.020.A.2. if he or she meets the requirements of Section 6.52.020.A.2.

B.

Medical Examiner—Physician Student Loan Payment Reimbursement Incentive.

Definitions:

a.

Medical Examiner shall mean the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner.

b.

Eligible Physician shall mean a Senior Physician (Item No. 5456A) or Physician Specialist (Item Nos. 5476A and 5476C) in the medical specialty of Pathology-Forensic, and who is continuously assigned to the Medical Examiner on a full-time monthly permanent basis as defined in Section 6.28.020.B. If an overall rating of "Needs Improvement" or "Unsatisfactory" is filed with the Director of Personnel, status as an Eligible Physician shall be terminated and not restored until an overall rating of "Competent" or better is received on the next departmental performance evaluation. Eligible status may be restored as described in this subsection b. only once during the Physician's County employment. A physician who has received an incentive bonus under Section 6.52.020.A., or who is hired or appointed on or after January 1, 2022, is not an Eligible Physician for the purposes of this Section 6.52.020.B.

c.

Qualifying Service shall mean time spent in active on-the-job performance as an Eligible Physician and includes approved leave of up to four weeks in any one-year period. Service in any other County job classification, in an acting capacity, in a County assignment other than the Medical Examiner, or assignment to the Medical Examiner on other than a full-time basis, shall not qualify as Qualifying Service. Employment with any employer other than the County shall not count as Qualifying

Service. Service performed during any period when an overall rating of "Needs Improvement" or "Unsatisfactory" is filed with the Director of Personnel shall not be Qualifying Service. Qualifying Service shall be tolled during an approved leave of absence exceeding four weeks in any one-year period, unless such tolling is prohibited by applicable law.

d.

Qualifying Student Loan shall mean a loan (or the portion of a loan, if consolidated) taken and used to cover the cost of an Eligible Physician's undergraduate, graduate, or medical school education. The determination of whether or to what extent a loan is a Qualifying Student Loan shall be made based on guidelines established by the Chief Executive Officer.

Requirements to Qualify for a Physician Student Loan Payment Reimbursement Incentive. An Eligible Physician may receive a Qualifying Student Loan payment reimbursement under the following conditions and subject to the following limitations:

a.

Annual Reimbursement Incentive. Beginning July 1, 2020, in addition to the compensation established for these classifications, an Eligible Physician who (i) completes one continuous year of Qualifying Service and (ii) has a departmental performance evaluation that is an overall rating of "Competent" or better for that period, shall be eligible for reimbursement of up to $30,000 in Qualifying Student Loan payments made during the year, provided that such reimbursement is subject to approval by the Chief Medical Examiner upon timely submission of adequate documentation based on the guidelines established by the Chief Executive Officer to substantiate the Qualifying Student Loan payment. Documentation to substantiate the expenses must be submitted to the Chief Medical Examiner within 30 days after completion of the requisite continuous year of Eligible Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all substantiation documentation must be submitted no later than February 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the required Eligible Service is completed. Expenses incurred or substantiated after February 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the required Eligible Service is completed will not be reimbursed. Reimbursement will be made within 60 days of receipt of proper substantiation, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the required Eligible Service is completed. If the Eligible Physician ceases to be an Eligible Physician for any reason before completion of one year of continuous Qualifying Service, no part of this Qualifying Student Loan payment reimbursement shall be paid. The tolling of Qualifying Service due to an approved leave of absence in accordance with Section 6.52.020.B.1.c. will not result in a break in the continuity of Qualifying Service. The period of tolling shall not be counted in calculating the one-year period under this provision.

b.

An Eligible Physician may qualify for the annual Qualifying Student Loan payment reimbursement provided for in Section 6.52.020.B.2.a. up to seven times during his or her County employment so long as he or she meets the requirements set forth in subsection a. of this Section 6.52.020.B.2. Total reimbursement for Qualifying Student Loan payments under this Section 6.52.020.B. shall not exceed $210,000 per Eligible Physician.

c.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, reimbursement under this Section 6.52.020.B. shall be made subject to any additional conditions approved by the Chief Executive Office.

d.

Payments made pursuant to this Section 6.52.020.B. shall not constitute a base rate.

e.

In no event shall a physician receive both a Qualifying Student Loan payment reimbursement pursuant to this Section 6.52.020.B. and a recruitment incentive pursuant to Section 6.52.020.A. during his or her County employment.

f.

In no event shall a physician hired or appointed after December 31, 2021, be entitled to a Qualifying Student Loan payment reimbursement pursuant to this Section 6.52.020.B.

g.

The Medical Examiner reserves the right to terminate the student loan incentive for new participants at any time due to the lack of available funding, provided that a current Eligible Physician participating in the student loan incentive pursuant to this Section 6.52.020.B. at the time the incentive is terminated may continue to qualify for the annual Qualifying Student Loan payment reimbursement on the same basis, as provided for in Section 6.52.020.B.2.b. if he or she meets the requirements set forth in Section 6.52.020.B.2.

C.

Effective October 1, 2018, persons employed as Chief, Medical Examiner Investigations (Item No. 1645) shall be entitled to additional compensation for possessing a basic American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Registry Certification or ABMDI Board Certification, upon department head receipt of verification. The additional compensation under this section shall not be cumulative and shall not constitute a base rate.

The amount of the additional compensation shall be 2 percent for the basic ABMDI Registry Certification, or 3 percent for possession of an ABMDI Board Certification, for persons employed as Chief, Medical Examiner Investigations (Item No. 1645).

D.

Effective October 1, 2018, the Department of Medical Examiner shall reimburse employees in the classification of Chief, Medical Examiner Investigations (Item No. 1645) for the initial ABMDI Board Certification fees upon department head receipt of proof of certification.

E.

Effective March 1, 2023, any person employed in the position of Assistant Chief, Medical Examiner's Investigations (Item No. 1638) who possesses any POST certificate categorized as an "Intermediate" certificate, upon receipt of verification shall be paid a bonus at a rate of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per month.

Effective March 1, 2023, any person employed in the position of Assistant Chief, Medical Examiner's Investigations (Item No. 1638) who possesses any POST certificate categorized as an "Advanced" certificate, upon receipt of verification shall be paid a bonus at a rate of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per month.

(Ord. 2024-0024 § 3, 2024; Ord. 2023-0042 § 10, 2023; Ord. 2019-0055 § 7, 2019; Ord. 2019-0032 § 1, 2019.)