An Act concerning the district coroner; relating to the disposition of the bodies of deceased

persons; amending K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 22a-215 and repealing the existing section.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

      Section  1. K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 22a-215 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 22a-215. (a) The coroner shall cause the body of a deceased
person to be delivered to the immediate family or the next of kin of the
deceased in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 65-904, and amend-
ments thereto. If there is no immediate family or next of kin the coroner
shall report and make delivery in accordance with the provisions of article
9 of chapter 65 of Kansas Statutes Annotated. If no such delivery is re-
quired, the coroner shall cause the body of such deceased person to be
decently buried, and the expenses to be cremated or buried. The state or
county officer responsible for the final disposition of the deceased person
may authorize and order the cremation or burial of such deceased person.
Cremation or burial expenses shall be paid from any property found with
the body. If there is no property found with the body or if the property
is not sufficient to cover such expenses and if the deceased was eligible
for assistance under the provisions of article 7 of chapter 39 of Kansas
Statutes Annotated, burial expenses of final disposition shall be paid in
accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 39-713d, and amendments
thereto. Otherwise, such burial expenses shall be paid from the county
general fund unless the deceased died in the custody of the secretary of
corrections. Burial expenses for Expenses of final disposition of the un-
claimed bodies of deceased inmates in the custody of the secretary of
corrections shall be paid by the department of corrections.

      (b) Any coroner who, over the protest of the immediate family or
next of kin of the deceased, delivers or causes to be delivered the body
of a deceased person for final disposition to a particular embalmer, funeral
director or funeral establishment, shall be deemed guilty of a class B
nonperson misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall forfeit the
coroner's office.

      Sec.  2. K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 22a-215 is hereby repealed.

      Sec.  3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.

I hereby certify that the above BILL originated in the
HOUSE, and passed that body

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Passed the SENATE ______________________________

APPROVED ______________________________