Article XI — DEPARTMENT OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER

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*Note -- Title amended by Ord. No. 2187 (N.S.), adopted 2-28-61; Article XI repealed and new Article XI, Coroner, added by Ord. No. 2762 (N.S.), adopted 12-1-64; Article XI, including Title, amended by Ord. No. 7752 (N.S.), operative 6-22-90.

Cross reference(s) -- Definitions, § 20 et seq.; general rules, § 50 et seq.; powers and duties of officers, boards, and commissions, § 51.

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SEC. 161. RECOGNITION OF DEPARTMENT.

There is in the County a Department of the Chief Medical Examiner hereinafter in this Article referred to as the Department.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)

There is in the County and in the Department the position of Chief Medical Examiner. Such position shall be in the Unclassified Service of the County and shall be filled by appointment by the Chief Administrative Officer in accordance with the County Charter and of the rules and policies established thereunder, and County ordinances.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 9839 (N.S.), operative 3-30-07; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)

Cross reference(s) -- Chief administrative officer, § 120 et seq.; appointment and removal, § 52.

The Chief Medical Examiner shall act under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer. The Chief Medical Examiner shall exercise general supervision over all functions of the Department and shall enforce such rules and regulations as are prescribed and approved by the board of Supervisors.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)

Cross reference(s) -- Powers and duties of officers, boards, and commissions, § 51.

DEPARTMENT.

The Chief Medical Examiner shall coordinate the various activities of the Department and, within the scope of the policy declared by the Board, may issue administrative regulations designed to accomplish this end.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)

The Chief Medical Examiner shall appoint and employ such personnel as may be necessary to properly conduct the business of the Department. All appointments and employments made by said Chief MedicalExaminer shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the County Charter, the Civil Service Rules and County ordinances.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)

SUPERVISE EXPENDITURES.

The Chief Medical Examiner shall prepare and file the required annual itemized estimate of expenditures and revenues for the Department in accordance with State law and this Code. The Chief Medical Examiner shall supervise the expenditure of all funds allotted to the Department.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)

Cross reference(s) -- Budget procedure, etc., § 110 et seq.

The Chief Medical Examiner shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Coroner as authorized pursuant to California Government Code, Section 27460, et seq.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9607 (N.S.), effective 12-5-03; amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)

The Chief Medical Examiner may prepare copies of those public writings and photographs in the office which are open to public inspection, and may certify the accuracy of copies thereof. For all copies so prepared, the Chief Medical Examiner shall collect a fee which shall be not less than the actual cost of labor and materials used in preparing and furnishing such copies as provided in the fee schedule in Section 364.6.

(Amended by Ord. No. 8809 (N.S.), effective 6-24-97; amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10151 (N.S.), effective 7-14-11; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12; amended by Ord. No. 10242 (N.S.), effective 2-7-13)

No fees shall be charged by the Chief Medical Examiner under Section 161 or 364.6 where exemption is provided by Chapter 2 of Division 7, Title 1 of the Government Code. No fees shall be charged to doctors, hospitals or other medical institutions for such documents as are necessary to assist the Chief Medical Examiner in the completion of the determination of the cause of death.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10151 (N.S.), effective 7-14-11; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12; amended by Ord. No. 10242 (N.S.), effective 2-7-13)

The Chief Medical Examiner's office is hereby authorized to perform technical laboratory services and to charge and collect the full cost of such services, when performed for a private individual or corporation or public agency other than the County, according to the schedule of fees provided in Section 364.6. When an autopsy is performed at the request of a decedent's surviving spouse, the decedent's surviving child or parent, or by the next of kin of the deceased, the cost of the autopsy shall be borne by the person requesting it to be performed in accordance with the fee schedule as provided in Section 364.6.

(Amended by Ord. No. 8809 (N.S.), effective 6-24-97; amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10151 (N.S.), effective 7-14-11; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12; amended by Ord. No. 10242 (N.S.), effective 2-7-13)

The Chief Medical Examiner's office is hereby authorized, when subpoenaed as witnesses or when requested to give expert opinion in writing, to demand and receive on behalf of the County a fee which shall be not less than the actual cost of such service. This shall apply when such service is performed at the request or subpoena of a private individual or corporation or a public agency other than the County.

(Amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)

(Amended by Ord. No. 8809 (N.S.), effective 6-24-97; amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10151 (N.S.), effective 7-14-11; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12; amended by Ord. No. 10242 (N.S.), effective 2-7-13; repealed by Ord. No. 10531 (N.S.), effective 5-24-18)

(Amended by Ord. No. 8809 (N.S.), effective 6-24-97; amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; amended by Ord. No. 10151 (N.S.), effective 7-14-11; amended by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12; repealed by Ord. No. 10531 (N.S.), effective 5-24-18)

(Added by Ord. No. 4726 (N.S.), effective 8-12-76; amended by Ord. No. 7752 (N.S.), operative 6-22-90; amended by Ord. No. 9629 (N.S.), effective 4-15-04; repealed by Ord. No. 10182 (N.S.), effective 1-5-12)