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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-248RESOLUTION NO. 03-248 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING ST. LUCIE COUNTY POLICY FOR DISPOSITION OF INDIGENT AND UNCLAIMED BODIES WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the following determinations: 1. Section 406.52, Florida Statutes, (2002), requires the County to assume responsibility for the burial or cremation of unclaimed bodies when the death occurs within the County and the State of Florida Anatomical Board does not accept the body; and, 2. Section 406.52 further designates the Board of County Commissioners as a legally authorized person as defined in Section 470.002, Florida Statutes (2002), for the purposes of authorizing cremation of such bodies; and, 3. In addition to the burial or cremation of unclaimed bodies, the County has for many years also provided burial and cremation services for indigent persons who die in the County; and, 4. The current fees paid to funeral homes for burial and cremation services were approved in 1984; and, 5. It is appropriate to adopt a policy regarding the disposition of indigent and unclaimed bodies in St. Lucie County in order to adjust the fee schedule to more closely reflect the cost of these services and formalize procedures for the approval of burial and cremation expenses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida: 1. This Board does hereby accept designation itself as the legally authorized person as defined in Section 470.002, Florida Statutes, for the purposes of authorizing cremation of indigent and/or unclaimed bodies. This Board further appoints the St. Lucie County Community Services Director to act as its designee in such matters. 2. This Board does hereby adopt the "St. Lucie County Policy for Disposition of Unclaimed and Indigent Bodies" attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A". 3. This resolution shall take effect on the date of its adoption. After motion and second the vote on this resolution was as follows: Chairman Cliff Barnes ABSENT Vice Chairman Paula A. Lewis YES Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson YES Commissioner Doug Coward YES Commissioner John D. Bruhn ABSENT PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 23rd day of September, 2003. ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA ,, ~~,~----$Y: DEPUTY LERK !//CE- CHA N ~-Ti- . ~ -.r~ s -o ., C ~ l Nf `~;~ , .. g: \atty\re so 1 tn\2003 \03 -248. wpd APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FOI~,IV~ AND M1.,r w/ St. Lucie County Cremation /Burial Policy and Procedures i. POLICY St. Lucie County provides burial and cremation services in accordance with Florida Statutes for services with local funeral homes for the cremation and burial of unclaimed and indigen# bodies. The coordination of burial and cremation services shall be handled through the St. Lucie County Community Services Division. Community Services shall make reasonable efforts to locate any of the decedent's relatives and a diligent search will be made to identify assets of the deceased to pay for costs associated with the final disposition of the body. Unless waived by the Community Services Director or designee, only the bodies of persons who die in St. Lucie County shall be considered to be the responsibility of St. Lucie County. Unless otherwise directed by the Medical Examiner's Office, all bodies, except for those unidentified, will be cremated. In the absence of a family member, relative or other designee of the deceased, the Medical Examiner and/or Community Services Director is authorized to sign the approval for cremation. Should relatives of the deceased oppose cremation, they will be allowed to pay the funeral home and cemetery directly for the additional cost incurred for burial. The County cost will be limited to the payment for cremation. When it is deemed to be in the best interest of St. Lucie County and not in conflict with Florida Statutes, the Community Services Director or designee shall have the authority to develop appropriate procedures regarding the burial and/or cremation of bodies that are the responsibility of St. Lucie County and to make exceptions to this administrative regulation. II. PROCEDURES The Community Services Division will maintain internal operational procedures for implementation of this administrative regulation and for working with funeral homes, the community, other St. Lucie County departments, state agencies, and other interested parties. A. Medical Examiner's Office: The St. Lucie County Medical Examiner's Office will refer unclaimed bodies to the designated funeral home according to the procedures established with the Community Services Director. 13. Oversight and Records: The Community Services Director will provide oversight for the fiscal management, operational activities, and program records. ~ ~ SLC Cremation/ Burial Policy and Procedures Page 2 C. State Anatomical Board: Unclaimed bodies meeting the requirements of the Anatomical Board of the State of Florida shall be offered to the Anatomical Board as required by Chapter 245, Florida Statutes and will become the responsibility of the State Anatomical Board for disposition. D. Claiming a Body: Nothing in this regulation nor in the procedures promulgated hereunder shall prevent relatives or others from taking responsibilit) for a body at any time. E. Disinterment: Relatives requesting disinterment for a burial au~orized by St. Lucie County will pay all fees to cover all costs associated with said removal. F. Verification of Request for Services: Upon receipt of a request for assistance with indigent burial expenses, the Division of Community Services shall investigate the request and verify the information accompanying the request. An investigation of the request for payment may involve assessment of, but not limited to, the following: a. Past employers b. Past landlords c. Schools d. Department of Health and Human Services e. Department of Veteran Affairs f. Social Security Administration f. Assets g. Banking institutions i. Nursing Homes j. Insurance Companies k. Friends or acquaintances of the deceased A request for assistance may be initiated by a relative, or other individual, an undertaker, a nursing or boarding home, a hospital, an institution, or a local law enforcement agency. G. Eligibility: Aresident ornon-resident, declared to be indigent, is eligible for an indigent cremation in the event of death in St. Lucie County. The Division of Community Services shall request that all hospitals and nursing homes operating in St. Lucie County identify non-county residents admitted to the institution, and in the event of death of the non-county resident, notify the Division of Community Services. The Division of Community Services shall then transmit a request for assumption of indigent buria! payment to the county of residence. H. Insurance: The County will not accept a case if death benefsts from insurance, donations, or any other funds are equal to or exceed County indigent cremation payments. ~ `r./ SLC Cremation/ Burial Policy and Procedures Page 3 I. Inpatlsnt Accounts: If death occurs while the deceased is a patient in a nunsing home, the County shall request that the nursing home notify the Division of any funds which may have accumulated in the inpatient account. The County shall consider such funds in assessing the indigence of the deceased. If these funds exceed or are equal to County indigent cremation payments, the County will not accept the case. If funds are less than or equal to the eligible costs, the County will pay the difference between the funds available and the eligible costs. J. Other Dead Benefits: ff the deceased is eligible for any other death benefits, including, but not limited to, railroad retirement and/or union death benefits, which exceed or are equal to County indigent burial payments, the County will not accept the case. K. Reimbursements: The County will file for reimbursement of burial expenses from available sources, including inpatient accounts, banking institutions and any other source. L. Payment Schedule for Funeral Home Services: The maximum amounts that the County will pay for services are as follows: 0 - 24 months: $ 35.00 Over 2 years: $ 500.00 M. Participating Funeral Homes: Any licensed full service St. Lucie County funeral home may request to be placed on the rotation schedule for participation in the indigent cremation and burial program. During it's scheduled months an the rotation, a participating funeral home agrees to accept all County approved indigents for burial. Refusal of an approved indigent, during a rotation period, may result in exclusion from the program. N. Funeral Home Services: A participating funeral home shalt provide the following services: a. Pro#essional service b. Removal of remains from the place of death c. Cremation or professional embalming or otherwise preserve until internment d. Cremation certificate O. Payment Schedule for Casket and Concrete Grave Liner: 0 - 24 months: $ 10.00 Over 2 years: $250.00 SLC Cremation! Burial Policy and Procedures Page 4 4/` P. Payment Schedule for Cemetery Plots: The maximum amounts that the County will pay for cemetery lots including opening and closing of the grave are as follows: 0 - 24 months: $ 100.00 Over 2 years: $ 450.00 Q. Participating Cemeteries: Any licensed cemetery in St. Lucie County may request to be placed on the rotation schedule for participation in the indigent burial program. Ouring the schedules months on the rotation, a participating cemetery agrees to inter all County approved indigents. Refusal of an approved indigent during a rotation period for other than good cause, may result in exclusion from the burial program. This policy will become effective upon approval by the Board of County Commissioners. St. Lucie County Community Services 437 North 7~' Stree# Fort Pierce, Florida Phone: (772) 462-1777 Approve ~ ~ ~ ""'`~ G:18urials1P04lCY1DraR 8.08.03 POLICY AND PROCEDURES 2003.wpd