There is created a department of the county, which shall be known as the “Department of Coroner,” hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the “department.” (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

The department of coroner shall be under the direction, management and control of a director, hereafter referred to in this chapter as the “director,” who shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. The director shall appoint all employees of the department except the chief medical examiner-coroner and other physician employees, subject to Sections 2.22.040 and 2.22.050 of this chapter. (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

On and after the operative date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the director shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
A. The director shall have charge of day-to-day operations of the department of coroner; and shall appoint and direct all non-physician staff therein, in providing services required by the chief medical examiner-coroner, under the general direction of the board of supervisors and in accordance with the position description approved by the chief administrative officer. The director shall be responsible for the direction of all non-physician personnel, fiscal, contracting and other administrative functions of the department, formulating administrative, non-physician departmental policy, goals and objectives, and the maintenance of relations with the public, news media and the conduct of press conferences.
B. The director shall be further responsible, in accordance with standards and protocols established by the chief medical examiner-coroner, for directing the investigation and gathering of evidence at the scene of death and elsewhere, conducting inquests, directing the provision of non-physician staff and support to the Forensic Medicine Division. The director shall also direct the provision of laboratory services, embalming, preserving of bodies, and the maintenance of medically adequate records of all cases and the provision thereof to the chief medical examiner-coroner. (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

The coroner whose office is provided for in Section 7 1/2 of Article XI of the Constitution of this state and in Section 14 of Article IV of the Charter of this county shall be known and referred to as the “Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner.” All documents, ordinances, resolutions and communications shall refer to said officer as “Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner.” Insofar as not in conflict with the Constitution or general laws, the said officer shall sign all communications and other documents under the title “Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner.” (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

A. The chief medical examiner-coroner has the responsibility for carrying out the statutory functions of coroner of Los Angeles County in the department of coroner under the general direction of the board of supervisors. The chief medical examiner-coroner is responsible for determining the cause of all violent, sudden, accidental and traumatic or unusual deaths; unattended deaths; deaths in which a criminal act is suspected and such other deaths as are provided by law. The chief medical examiner-coroner shall select and appoint all physician staff and direct all physician functions of the department of coroner; in addition, he shall:
1. Set standards and establish protocols for all nonmedical supportive services provided by the department of coroner;
2. Direct post-mortem pathological examinations and medical determinations required to determine the cause of death;
3. Direct the execution of death certificates for all coroner cases;
4. Request the conduct of inquests and cooperate in the preparation of medical and legal testimony for presentation to the coroner’s jury as required;
5. Testify in court as an expert witness; and
6. Direct all medical education activities.
B. In addition, the chief medical examiner-coroner shall cooperate with the director, department of coroner, in providing assistance to law enforcement and organ transplant agencies, conducting research, preparing and presenting information and materials to the board of supervisors and other legislative bodies for the purpose of creating or amending regulations. (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

The director shall charge a fee, and deposit same in the county treasury, for the preparation and furnishing of copies of documents or records in his office, not to exceed the actual cost of providing such copy. (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

The director shall not furnish any document or record to any private hospital, person, firm or corporation unless the fees prescribed in this chapter are paid, except:
A. As otherwise provided for by law;
B. The director may furnish any of the documents described in this chapter free of charge to any physician and to any public or private hospital, which physician or public or private hospital, as the case may be, has furnished the medical history of the decedent. (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

Pursuant to Section 27471 of the Government Code, whenever the chief medical examiner-coroner takes custody of a dead body pursuant to law, the director shall make a reasonable attempt to locate the family within 24 hours. At the end of 24 hours, the chief medical examiner-coroner may embalm the body or authorize the embalming by a mortician. If the embalming has been requested by the family or by a person authorized to take charge of the body prior to such embalming, and such family or person has agreed to accept the expense, the director shall charge and collect $135.00. Any family, however, which has not been located within 24 hours of the coroner obtaining custody of the body, shall be charged $65.00. (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

The director shall deposit all fees collected by the department in the county treasury as required by law. (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

A. Pursuant to Section 27472 of the Government Code, whenever custody of a dead body is taken by the department of coroner pursuant to law, the director may charge and collect from the person entitled to control the disposition of the remains, as specified in Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code, the actual expense incurred by the coroner in removing the body from the place of death and keeping the body until its release to the person responsible for its interment. The charge shall be an amount not to exceed $200.00, shall not be imposed upon a person who claims and proves to be indigent, and shall not include expenses of keeping the body during the time necessary for the chief medical examiner-coroner to perform his or her duties in connection with it. The charge, if not paid, may be considered a part of the funeral expenses and paid as a preferred charge against the estate of the decedent.
B. The director shall determine when the charge authorized hereby will be imposed and the amount thereof. No charge shall be imposed if private charitable funds available to pay funeral costs would thereby be reduced so as to preclude payment of the costs from such funds. No charge shall be imposed on persons who are determined to be indigent. (Ord. 90-0163 § 2 (part), 1990.)

A. The county of Los Angeles declares that it desires those peace officer employees designated by the department of coroner to participate in the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training reimbursement program.
B. The department of coroner will adhere to the standards for selection and training established by the Commission.
C. The Commission and its representatives may make such inquiries as deemed appropriate by the Commission to ascertain that department of coroner peace officer personnel adhere to standards for selection and training established by the Commission. (Ord. 92-0029 § 1, 1992.)