SB0686eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0686 Engrossed LRB103 03139 AWJ 48145 b

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. The fees of the coroner's office shall be as follows:

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

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

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

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

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, whichever is greater.

7. For a coroner's or medical examiner's permit to cremate a dead human body: $50.00. 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.

8. Except in a county with a population over 3,000,000, on and after January 1, 2024, for a certified copy of a transcript of sworn testimony of a coroner's inquest made by written request declaring the request is for research or genealogy purposes: $15.00 for the entire transcript. A request shall be deemed a proper request for purpose of research or genealogy if the requested inquest occurred not less than 20 years prior to the date of the written request. The transcript shall be stamped with the words "FOR GENEALOGY OR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY".

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 in a county with a population over 3,000,000, on and after January 1, 2024, the coroner may waive, at his or her discretion, any fees under this Section if the coroner determines that the person is indigent and unable to pay the fee or under other special circumstances as determined by the coroner.

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. Moneys in the special account shall be used solely for the purchase of electronic and forensic identification equipment or other related supplies and the operating expenses of the coroner's office.

The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly do not apply retroactively.

(Source: P.A. 96-1161, eff. 7-21-10.)