SB 358

This bill establishes an exception from current law restrictions on fee increases for certain fees charged by a county for coroner or medical examiner services, specifically 1) fees for services rendered by a coroner, 2) fees assessed for the signing of a death record by a coroner or medical examiner, and 3) fees assessed related to transportation services. Under current law, if, on or after April 18, 2017, a county board of supervisors increases the amount of any of these fees, the increase may not exceed the annual percentage change in the U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, for the 12 months ending on December 31 of the year before the increase. Under the bill, if a county that had been providing coroner or lay medical examiner services begins providing physician medical examiner services after December 1, 2024, and before July 1, 2025, the county is allowed, one time, to set the fee assessed for the signing of a death record or for the issuance of a cremation permit, or to set both fees, at an amount exceeding the amount that was in effect on April 17, 2015, by not more than $100. Under the bill, fees established under the new exception may be established without regard to any change in the U.S. consumer price index. The exception does not apply to a county with a population of more than 300,000.