HB6212 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 16206 RLJ 31461 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB6212

Introduced 2/11/2010, by Rep. Dan Brady

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/4-7001

from Ch. 34, par. 4-7001

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county board may, by ordinance or resolution, increase the fees imposed by the coroner's office. Sets forth the maximum fees that may be imposed for autopsy reports, cremation permits, transcripts, toxicology reports, and miscellaneous reports. Provides that a coroner may waive the permit fee to cremate a dead human body if the coroner determines that the person is indigent and unable to pay the permit fee or under other special circumstances. Provides that the county treasurer shall establish a special account in the county treasury for the deposit of the coroner's fees (now, the fees are deposited into the general fund of the county). Provides that moneys in the special account shall be used for the payment of the expenses of the coroner's office. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing Section 4-7001 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/4-7001) (from Ch. 34, par. 4-7001)

Sec. 4-7001. Coroner's fees. A county board may, by ordinance or resolution, increase the fees charged by the coroner's office. The fees of the coroner's office may be no more than as follows: The fees of the coroner's office shall be as follows:

1. For a copy of a transcript of sworn testimony: $5.00 $3.00 per page.

2. For a copy of an autopsy report (if not included in transcript): $50.00 $30.00.

3. For a copy of the verdict of a coroner's jury: $5.00.

4. For a copy of a toxicology report: $25.00 $15.00.

5. For a print of or an electronic file containing a picture obtained by the coroner: actual cost or $3.00, whichever is greater.

6. For each copy of miscellaneous reports, including artist's drawings but not including police reports: actual cost or $25.00 $15.00, whichever is greater.

7. For a coroner's or medical examiner's permit to cremate a dead human body: $50.00 $10.00. The coroner may waive, at his or her discretion, the permit fee if the coroner determines that the person is indigent and unable to pay the permit fee or under other special circumstances.

All of which fees shall be certified by the court; in the case of inmates of any State charitable or penal institution, the fees shall be paid by the operating department or commission, out of the State Treasury. The coroner shall file his or her claim in probate for his or her fees and he or she shall render assistance to the State's attorney in the collection of such fees out of the estate of the deceased. In counties of less than 1,000,000 population, the State's attorney shall collect such fees out of the estate of the deceased.

Except as otherwise provided in this Section, whenever the coroner is required by law to perform any of the duties of the office of the sheriff, the coroner is entitled to the like fees and compensation as are allowed by law to the sheriff for the performance of similar services.

Except as otherwise provided in this Section, whenever the coroner of any county is required to travel in the performance of his or her duties, he or she shall receive the same mileage fees as are authorized for the sheriff of such county.

All fees under this Section collected by or on behalf of the coroner's office shall be paid over to the county treasurer and deposited into a special account in the county treasury the general fund of the county. Moneys in the special account shall be used for the payment of the expenses of the coroner's office.

(Source: P.A. 86-962; 86-1028.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.