KANSAS STATUTES AND CODES

22a-215. District coroner; disposition of body of deceased; burial, when; expenses, how paid; penalties.

22a-215

Chapter 22a.--DISTRICT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES Article 2.--DISTRICT CORONERS

22a-215. District coroner; disposition of body of deceased; burial,when; expenses, how paid; penalties.(a) The coroner shall cause the body of a deceased person to bedelivered tothe immediate family or the next of kin of the deceased in accordance withthe provisions of K.S.A. 65-904, and amendments thereto. If there is noimmediate family or next of kin the coroner shall report and make delivery inaccordance with the provisions of article 9 of chapter 65 of Kansas StatutesAnnotated. If no such delivery is required, the coroner shall cause thebody ofsuch deceased person to becremated or buried. The state or county officer responsible for the finaldisposition of the deceased person may authorize and order the cremation orburial of such deceased person. Cremation or burial expenses shall be paidfromany property found with the body. If there is no property found with the bodyor if the property is not sufficient to cover such expenses and if thedeceased was eligible for assistance under the provisions of article7 of chapter 39 of Kansas Statutes Annotated expenses offinal disposition shall be paid inaccordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 39-713d, and amendments thereto.Otherwise, such expenses shall be paid from the countygeneral fundunless the deceased died in the custody of the secretary of corrections.Expenses of final disposition of theunclaimed bodies of deceased inmates in the custody ofthe secretary of corrections shall be paid by the department of corrections.

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

History: G.S. 1868, ch. 25, § 132; R.S. 1923, 19-1015; L. 1945,ch. 163, § 1;L. 1951, ch. 359, § 1; L. 1955, ch. 148, § 1;L. 1965, ch. 164, § 7; L. 1975, ch. 158, § 1;L. 1993, ch. 214, § 1;L. 1997, ch. 179, § 7;L. 1999, ch. 47, § 1; July 1.