text:
(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, except as otherwise provided in this section, in any case in which the coroner, before the beginning of an autopsy, dissection, or removal of corneal tissue, pituitary glands, or any other organ, tissue, or fluid, has received a certificate of religious belief, executed by the decedent as provided in subdivision (b), that the procedure would be contrary to his or her religious belief, the coroner shall neither perform, nor order the performance of, that procedure on the body of the decedent.

(2) If, before beginning the procedure, the coroner is informed by a relative or a friend of the decedent that the decedent had executed a certificate of religious belief, the coroner shall not order an autopsy to be performed, except as otherwise provided in this section, for 48 hours. If the certificate is produced within 48 hours, the case shall be governed by this section. If the certificate is not produced within that time, the case shall be governed by the other provisions of this article.

(b) Any person, 18 years of age or older, may execute a certificate of religious belief which shall state in clear and unambiguous language that any postmortem anatomical dissection or that specified procedures would violate the religious convictions of the person. The certificate shall be signed and dated by the person in the presence of at least two witnesses. Each witness shall also sign the certificate and shall print on the certificate his or her name and residence address.

(c) Notwithstanding the existence of a certificate, the coroner may at any time cause an autopsy to be performed or any other procedure if he or she has a reasonable suspicion that the death was caused by the criminal act of another or by a contagious disease constituting a public health hazard.

(d) (1) If a certificate is produced, and if subdivision (c) does not apply, the coroner may petition the superior court, without fee, for an order authorizing an autopsy or other procedure or for an order setting aside the certificate as invalid. Notice of the proceeding shall be given to the person who produced the certificate. The proceeding shall have preference over all other cases.

(2) The court shall set aside the certificate if it finds that the certificate was not properly executed or that it does not clearly state the decedent’s religious objection to the proposed procedure.

(3) The court may order an autopsy or other procedure despite a valid certificate if it finds that the cause of death is not evident, and that the interest of the public in determining the cause of death outweighs its interest in permitting the decedent and like persons fully to exercise their religious convictions.

(4) Any procedure performed pursuant to paragraph (3) shall be the least intrusive procedure consistent with the order of the court.

(5) If the petition is denied, and no stay is granted, the body of the deceased shall immediately be released to the person authorized to control its disposition.

(e) In any case in which the circumstances, manner, or cause of death is not determined because of the provisions of this section, the coroner may state on the certificate of death that an autopsy was not conducted because of the provisions of this section.

(f) A coroner shall not be liable for damages in a civil action for any act or omission taken in compliance with the provisions of this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 787, Sec. 3. (SB 1189) Effective January 1, 2017.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


kind: section

code: GOV

text:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the coroner is authorized to do all of the following:

(a) Assist the people of this state, as appropriate, in the implementation of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act contained in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 7150) of Part 1 of Division 7 of the Health and Safety Code, and in the otherwise lawful utilization of medically proven organ and tissue transplant procedures.

(b) Cooperate in the authorized removal and timely disposition of human organs and tissue from the bodies of deceased persons, including victims of homicide, in accordance with law and accepted medical practice.

(c) Assist medical and health service agencies in identifying donors of human organs and tissues, for purposes of providing life-enhancing benefits of transplant surgery to recipients under duly sanctioned medical conditions.

(d) Ask the deceased person’s next of kin, at the time of notification of death, whether the deceased was a donor or if the family was a donor family. If not, the coroner is authorized to inform them of their option to donate viable organs and tissues.

(e) Enter into agreements with one or more procurement organizations to coordinate organ recovery procedures within that coroner’s jurisdiction or in cooperation with other coroners throughout the state.

(f) Contract with or receive assistance of any kind from any public or private entity for the purpose of providing education and training to his or her personnel in pathology or any other area of the healing arts and sciences that will assist in timely determination of the causes of death.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 827, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

division: 2. OFFICERS

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 10. Coroner

article: 2. Inquests

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 10. Coroner > 2. Inquests


text:
(a) (1) The coroner shall have the right to retain parts of the body, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 7150.1 of the Health and Safety Code, removed at the time of autopsy or acquired during a coroner’s investigation as may, in the opinion of the coroner, be necessary or advisable for scientific investigation and training. The coroner may employ or use outside laboratories, hospitals, or research institutions in the conduct of the coroner’s scientific investigation or training.

(2) Parts of the body retained pursuant to paragraph (1) may be released by the coroner to hospitals, medical educational research institutions, and law enforcement agencies for noncoroner training, educational, and research purposes, either upon consent of the decedent or other person, as specified in Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code, or after a reasonable effort has been made to locate and inform persons listed in subdivision (a) of Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code of their option to consent or object to the release, and the appropriate person consents or that effort has been unsuccessful. A reasonable effort shall be deemed to have been made when a search for the persons has been underway for at least 12 hours. The search shall include a check of local police missing persons records, examination of personal effects, and the questioning of any persons visiting the decedent before his or her death or in the hospital, accompanying the decedent’s body, or reporting the death, in order to obtain information that might lead to the location of any persons listed in subdivision (a) of Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) The coroner may, in his or her discretion, allow removal of parts of the body by a licensed physician and surgeon or trained transplant technician for transplant, or therapeutic, or scientific purposes pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 7150) of Part 1 of Division 7 of the Health and Safety Code, only if the following conditions are met:

(1) The provision of the part will not unnecessarily mutilate the body or interfere with the autopsy.

(2) The decedent or other person, as specified in Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code, has consented to the provision of the part, as prescribed by Section 7154 of the Health and Safety Code, or after a reasonable effort has been made to locate and inform persons listed in subdivision (a) of Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code of their option to consent or object to the release, and the appropriate person consents, or that effort has been unsuccessful. A reasonable effort shall be deemed to have been made when a search for the persons has been underway for at least 12 hours. The search shall include a check of local police missing persons records, examination of personal effects, and the questioning of any persons visiting the decedent before his or her death or in the hospital, accompanying the decedent’s body, or reporting the death, in order to obtain information that might lead to the location of any persons listed in subdivision (a) of Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code. In obtaining this gift, the coroner shall notify the donor of the specific part or parts requested and shall obtain the donor’s informed consent, as provided in Section 7150.5 or 7151 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting any right provided for in Section 7152 of the Health and Safety Code.

(d) For purposes of this section, “trained transplant technician” means a person who has completed training in tissue removal for transplant or therapeutic, or scientific purposes, which the coroner determines to be adequate for the purposes.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 830, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text:
(a) The coroner shall have the right to retain pituitary glands solely for transmission to a university, for use in research or the advancement of medical science, in those cases in which the coroner has required an autopsy to be performed pursuant to this chapter, and during a 48-hour period following such autopsy the body has not been claimed and the coroner has not been informed of any relatives of the decedent.

(b) In the course of any autopsy, the coroner may cause to be removed the pituitary gland from the body for transmittal to any public agency for use in manufacturing a hormone necessary for the physical growth of persons who are, or may become, hypopituitary dwarfs, if the coroner has no knowledge of objection to the removal and release of the pituitary gland having been made by the decedent or any other person specified in Section 7151.5 of the Health and Safety Code. Neither the coroner nor the medical examiner authorizing the removal of the pituitary gland, nor any hospital, medical center, tissue bank, storage facility, or person acting upon the request, order, or direction of the coroner or medical examiner in the removal of the pituitary gland pursuant to this section, shall incur civil liability for the removal of the pituitary gland in an action brought by any person who did not object prior to the removal of the pituitary gland, nor be subject to criminal prosecution for removal of the pituitary gland pursuant to the authority of this section.

Nothing in this subdivision shall supersede the terms of any gift made pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 7150) of Part 1 of Division 7 of the Health and Safety Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 787, Sec. 4. (SB 1189) Effective January 1, 2017.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text:
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the coroner may, in the course of an autopsy, authorize the removal and release of corneal eye tissue from a body within the coroner’s custody, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The autopsy has otherwise been authorized.

(2) The coroner has no knowledge of objection to the removal and release of corneal tissue having been made by the decedent or any other person specified in Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code and has obtained any one of the following:

(A) A dated and signed written consent by the donor or any other person specified in Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code on a form that clearly indicates the general intended use of the tissue and contains the signature of at least one witness.

(B) Proof of the existence of a recorded telephonic consent by the donor or any other person specified in Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code in the form of an audio recording of the conversation or a transcript of the recorded conversation, which indicates the general intended use of the tissue.

(C) A document recording a verbal telephonic consent by the donor or any other person specified in Section 7151 of the Health and Safety Code, witnessed and signed by no fewer than two members of the requesting entity, hospital, eye bank, or procurement organization, memorializing the consenting person’s knowledge of and consent to the general intended use of the gift.

The form of consent obtained under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) shall be kept on file by the requesting entity and the official agency for a minimum of three years.

(3) The removal of the tissue will not unnecessarily mutilate the body, be accomplished by enucleation, nor interfere with the autopsy.

(4) The tissue will be removed by a licensed physician and surgeon or a trained transplant technician.

(5) The tissue will be released to a public or nonprofit facility for transplant, therapeutic, or scientific purposes.

(b) Neither the coroner nor medical examiner authorizing the removal of the corneal tissue, nor any hospital, medical center, tissue bank, storage facility, or person acting upon the request, order, or direction of the coroner or medical examiner in the removal of corneal tissue pursuant to this section, shall incur civil liability for the removal in an action brought by any person who did not object prior to the removal of the corneal tissue, nor be subject to criminal prosecution for the removal of the corneal tissue pursuant to this section.

(c) This section shall not be construed to interfere with the ability of a person to make an anatomical gift pursuant to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 7150) of Part 1 of Division 7 of the Health and Safety Code).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 787, Sec. 5. (SB 1189) Effective January 1, 2017.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text:
In any case where a coroner is required to inquire into a death pursuant to Section 27491, the coroner may delegate his or her jurisdiction over the death to an agency of another county or the federal government when all of the following conditions have been met:

(a) The other agency has either requested the delegation of jurisdiction, or has agreed to take jurisdiction at the request of the coroner.

(b) The other agency has the authority to perform the functions being delegated.

(c) When both the coroner and the other agency have a jurisdictional interest or involvement in the death.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1139, Sec. 1.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text:
(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Forensic Accountability, Custodial Transparency, and Safety (FACTS) Act of 2025.

(b) In any county where the offices of the sheriff and the coroner are combined, the sheriff-coroner shall not determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of death pursuant to Section 27491 for any in-custody death, but shall instead do one or both of the following:

(1) Contract with one or more counties that have a coroner’s office that operates independently from the office of the sheriff, or that have established an office of medical examiner pursuant to Section 24010, to determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of death. The contracted coroners or medical examiners shall operate independently from the office of the sheriff-coroner in conducting the medical examination process, including, but not limited to, exercising professional judgment to make determinations of the circumstances, manner, and cause of death.

(2) Contract with one or more private third-party medical examination providers that are separate and independent from the office of the sheriff-coroner and that meet the physician qualification requirements described in Section 24010 to determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of death. A private third-party medical examination provider shall operate independently from the office of the sheriff-coroner in conducting the medical examination process, including, but not limited to, exercising professional judgment to make determinations of the circumstances, manner, and cause of death.

(c) The cause and manner of death listed on the death certificate shall match the cause and manner of death determined by the coroner, medical examiner, or private third-party medical examination provider, as provided in this section.

(d) (1) In any county in which the offices of the sheriff and the coroner are combined, the county board of supervisors shall annually select and enter into a service agreement or service agreements with medical examiners or independent coroner offices from other counties, or with one or more private third-party medical examination providers, or with any combination of those medical examiners, independent coroner offices, or private third-party medical examination providers.

(2) A private third-party medical examination provider that has entered into a service agreement with a county, as provided in paragraph (1), may not, during the term of that service agreement, be contracted by the county or the sheriff-coroner of that county to provide medical examination for any cases that do not involve in-custody deaths.

(e) Upon the determination of the circumstances, manner, and cause of death, the findings of the examination shall be delivered to the sheriff-coroner, district attorney, county health officer, and board of supervisors of the county in which the death occurred. The findings shall also be delivered to the decedent’s next of kin.

(f) For purposes of this section, “in-custody death” means either of the following:

(1) An in-custody death as defined in Section 10008 of the Penal Code.

(2) A death of a person who is detained, under arrest, or is in the process of being detained or arrested, by a federal law enforcement officer, including for the purposes of immigration enforcement, or who is en route to be detained, or is detained, at a federal correctional facility or immigration detention facility, and for which the sheriff-coroner has jurisdiction or the federal government has requested an autopsy be performed by the sheriff-coroner’s office.

(g) This section shall be operative January 1, 2027.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 389, Sec. 1. (AB 1108) Effective January 1, 2026. Operative January 1, 2027, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: The coroner shall summon, or cause to be summoned by any sheriff or policeman, not less than nine nor more than 15 persons, qualified by law to serve as jurors, to appear before him forthwith, either at the place where the body of the deceased is or at some other convenient place within the county designated by him, or at the request of the district attorney, to inquire into the cause of the death.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 872, Sec. 57. Effective January 1, 1997.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: No person summoned is exempt from jury duty except at the discretion of the coroner. No person shall be summoned as juror who is related to the decedent or is charged with or suspected of the killing, nor shall anyone be summoned who is known to be prejudiced for or against him. No person selected or summoned to appear as a juror is subject to be challenged by any party.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: After the jury has been sworn and charged by the coroner it may, if deemed necessary and so ordered by him, go with him to view and examine the body of the deceased person. On order of the coroner the jury shall retire to any convenient place specified by him to hear the testimony of witnesses and deliberate upon its verdict.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text:
(a) The coroner may issue subpoenas for witnesses, returnable forthwith or at such time and place as the coroner appoints, which may be served by any competent person. The coroner may also require any such witness to bring with him or her any books, records, documents, or other things under the control of the witness which, in the opinion of the coroner, are necessary to the conduct of the inquest and as a further aid in determining the circumstances, manner, and cause of death of the decedent. To enforce the provisions of this section, the coroner may issue subpoenas duces tecum in accordance with Section 1985 of the Code of Civil Procedure. In case of failure of a witness to attend, and in the case of a subpoena duces tecum, for the failure to produce the items set forth therein, the coroner, or the coroner’s authorized deputy, issuing the subpoena upon proof of service thereof, and the failure of the witness, may certify the facts to the superior court in the county where the proceedings are held. The court shall thereupon issue an order directing the person to appear before the court and show cause why he or she should not be ordered to comply. The order and a copy of the certified statement shall be served on the person. Thereafter the court shall have jursidiction of the matter. The same proceedings shall be had, the same penalties may be imposed and the person charged may purge himself or herself of the contempt in the same way as in the case of a person who has committed a contempt in the trial of a civil action before a superior court. The items set forth on the subpoena duces tecum shall not be made public unless an inquest is held.

(b) Any books, records, documents, or other things under the control of a law enforcement agency, subpoenaed pursuant to subdivision (a), shall not themselves be made a part of the record in any coroner’s inquest without the written consent of the law enforcement agency, when such inquest pertains to a death caused by a police officer.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 1198.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: The coroner shall summon and examine as witnesses every person who in his opinion or that of any of the jury has any knowledge of the facts. He may summon a surgeon or physician to inspect the body or hold a post mortem examination or a chemist to make an analysis of the stomach or the tissues of the deceased and give a professional opinion as to the cause of the death.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: Where the names and addresses of possible witnesses have been furnished to the coroner by the next of kin of the deceased, an attorney for the next of kin, or the district attorney, the coroner shall, if it reasonably appears to him that the persons named are in fact necessary witnesses, subpoena such persons to appear at the inquest hearing.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 1220.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: Any witness served with a subpena who wilfully and without reasonable excuse fails to attend and testify is guilty of a misdemeanor.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: The coroner may adjourn the inquest from time to time as may be necessary.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: The coroner shall cause the testimony given by any witness to be reduced to writing or recorded either in shorthand or by a mechanical recording device. It may, if recorded, at his discretion, be transcribed into typewriting by him or under his direction. He may employ a clerk or stenographer for the purpose. When the testimony is taken down by a stenographer, his duly certified transcription thereof constitutes the deposition of the witness. The compensation of the clerk or stenographer shall be the same as that allowed to stenographers in the superior court of the county and is a legal charge against the county.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1947, Ch. 575.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: The inquest verdict or decision shall be inadmissible as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: The transcript of the testimony of the witnesses examined in the coroner’s inquest shall be completed and filed within 10 days following the inquest with either the coroner’s office or the county clerk as determined by the board of supervisors.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1175.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: After hearing the testimony, the jury shall render its verdict and certify it by an inquisition in writing signed by the members of the jury, or the coroner shall render his decision if the inquest is by the coroner sitting without a jury, setting forth the name of the deceased, the time and place of death, the medical cause of death and whether the death was by (1) natural causes, (2) suicide, (3) accident, or (4) the hands of another person other than by accident. Such findings shall not include nor shall they make any reference to civil or criminal responsibility on the part of the deceased or any other person.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1573.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text:
If the findings are that the deceased met his or her death at the hands of another, the coroner shall, in addition to filing the report in his or her office or with the county clerk, as determined by the board of supervisors pursuant to Section 27503, transmit his or her written findings to the district attorney, the police agency wherein the dead body was recovered, and any other police agency requesting copies of the findings.

The findings and conclusions provided for in this article shall be sufficient to satisfy the cause of death information required in death certificates under Section 102875 of the Health and Safety Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 221, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 2003.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: There shall be but one inquest upon a body, unless that taken is set aside by the court, and there shall be but one inquest held upon several bodies of persons who were killed by the same cause and died at the same time.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text: If it appears that an error in the identity of the body has been made by the jury, the coroner may call another inquest without reference to the court, and a memorandum of the error shall be entered upon the erroneous inquisition.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Inquests


text:
(a) The coroner shall cause to be performed an autopsy on a decedent, for which an autopsy has not already been performed, if the surviving spouse requests him or her to do so in writing. If there is no surviving spouse, the coroner shall cause an autopsy to be performed if requested to do so in writing by a surviving child or parent, or if there is no surviving child or parent, by the next of kin of the deceased.

(b) The coroner may cause to be performed an autopsy on a decedent, for which an autopsy has already been performed, if the surviving spouse requests him or her to do so in writing. If there is no surviving spouse, the coroner may cause an autopsy to be performed if requested to do so in writing by a surviving child or parent, or if there is no surviving child or parent, by the next of kin of the deceased.

(c) The cost of an autopsy requested pursuant to either subdivision (a) or (b) shall be borne by the person requesting that it be performed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 787, Sec. 6. (SB 1189) Effective January 1, 2017.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2.5. Autopsy

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 10. Coroner > 2.5. Autopsy


text:
(a) A postmortem examination or autopsy conducted at the discretion of a coroner, medical examiner, or other agency upon an unidentified body or human remains is subject to this section.

(b) Any agency tasked with the exhumation of a body or skeletal remains of a deceased person that has suffered significant deterioration or decomposition, where the circumstances surrounding the death afford a reasonable basis to suspect that the death was caused by or related to the criminal act of another, may perform the exhumation in consultation with a board-certified forensic pathologist certified by the American Board of Pathology. The board-certified forensic pathologist may suggest that the agency tasked with an exhumation pursuant to this subdivision consider retaining the services of an anthropologist in order to conduct the exhumation with the highest dignity for potential victims, the least damage to a potential crime scene, and the best chance for victim recovery and identification.

(c) A postmortem examination or autopsy shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following procedures:

(1) Taking of all available fingerprints and palm prints.

(2) A dental examination consisting of dental charts and dental X-rays of the deceased person’s teeth, which may be conducted on the body or human remains by a qualified dentist as determined by the coroner or medical examiner.

(3) The collection of tissue, including a hair sample, or body fluid samples for future DNA testing, if necessary.

(4) Frontal and lateral facial photographs with the scale indicated.

(5) Notation and photographs, with a scale, of significant scars, marks, tattoos, clothing items, or other personal effects found with or near the body.

(6) Notations of observations pertinent to the estimation of the time of death.

(7) Precise documentation of the location of the remains.

(d) The postmortem examination or autopsy of the unidentified body or remains may include full body X-rays or computed tomography scans.

(e) (1) At the sole and exclusive discretion of a coroner, medical examiner, or other agency tasked with performing an autopsy pursuant to Section 27491, an electronic image system, including, but not limited to, an X-ray machine or computed tomography scanning system, may be used to fulfill the requirements of subdivision (c) or of a postmortem examination or autopsy required by other law, including, but not limited to, Section 27520.

(2) This subdivision does not impose a duty upon any coroner, medical examiner, or other agency tasked with performing autopsies pursuant to Section 27491 to use an electronic image system to perform autopsies or to acquire the capability to do so.

(3) A coroner, medical examiner, or other agency tasked with performing an autopsy pursuant to Section 27491 shall not use an electronic imaging system to conduct an autopsy in any investigation where the circumstances surrounding the death afford a reasonable basis to suspect that the death was caused by or related to the criminal act of another and it is necessary to collect evidence for presentation in a court of law. If the results of an autopsy performed using electronic imaging provides the basis to suspect that the death was caused by or related to the criminal act of another, and it is necessary to collect evidence for presentation in a court of law, then a dissection autopsy shall be performed in order to determine the cause and manner of death.

(4) An autopsy may be conducted using an X-ray or computed tomography scanning system notwithstanding the existence of a certificate of religious belief properly executed in accordance with Section 27491.43.

(f) The coroner, medical examiner, or other agency performing a postmortem examination or autopsy shall prepare a final report of investigation in a format established by the Department of Justice. The final report shall list or describe the information collected pursuant to the postmortem examination or autopsy conducted under subdivision (c).

(g) The unidentified body or human remains shall not be cremated or buried until the appropriate samples of tissue and bone are retained for future possible use.

(h) For an unidentified body or human remains, appropriate samples of tissue and bone shall be taken before the body or human remains are cremated or buried. The types of samples of tissue and bone that are taken shall be determined by the coroner or medical examiner. The samples obtained, the method of procurement or dissection of those samples, and the handling, processing, and storage of samples shall be within, and guided by, the generally accepted standards of forensic pathology and death investigation.

(i) The coroner, medical examiner, or other agency responsible for a postmortem examination or autopsy shall retain the appropriate samples of tissue and bone for one year after a positive identification is made, and no civil or criminal challenges are pending, or indefinitely.

(j) If the coroner, medical examiner, or other agency performing a postmortem examination or autopsy with the aid of the dental examination and any other identifying findings is unable to establish the identity of the body or human remains, the coroner, medical examiner, or other agency shall submit dental charts and dental X-rays of the unidentified deceased person to the Department of Justice on forms supplied by the Department of Justice within 45 days of the date the body or human remains were discovered.

(k) If the coroner, medical examiner, or other agency performing a postmortem examination or autopsy with the aid of the dental examination and other identifying findings is unable to establish the identity of the body or human remains, the coroner, medical examiner, or other agency shall submit the final report of investigation to the Department of Justice within 180 days of the date the body or human remains were discovered. The final report of investigation shall list or describe the information collected pursuant to the postmortem examination or autopsy and any anthropology report, fingerprints, photographs, and autopsy report.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 936, Sec. 1. (SB 1163) Effective January 1, 2019.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2.5. Autopsy


text: The law enforcement agency investigating the death of an unidentified person shall report the death to the Department of Justice, in a format acceptable to the Department of Justice, no later than 10 calendar days after the date the body or human remains were discovered.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 284, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2.5. Autopsy


text:
(a) A forensic autopsy shall only be conducted by a licensed physician and surgeon. The results of a forensic autopsy shall only be determined by a licensed physician and surgeon.

(b) A forensic autopsy shall be defined as an examination of a body of a decedent to generate medical evidence for which the cause of death is determined. At the direction and supervision of a coroner, a medical examiner, or a licensed physician and surgeon, trained county personnel who are necessary to the performance of an autopsy may take body measurements or retrieve blood, urine, or vitreous samples from the body of a decedent.

(c) For purposes of this section, a postmortem examination shall be defined as the external examination of the body where no manner or cause of death is determined.

(d) (1) For purposes of this section, the manner of death shall be determined by the coroner or medical examiner of a county. If a forensic autopsy is conducted by a licensed physician and surgeon, the coroner or medical examiner shall consult with the licensed physician and surgeon in the determination of the manner of death.

(2) Commencing January 1, 2027, paragraph (1) does not apply to an independent medical examination conducted pursuant to Section 27491.56.

(e) For health and safety purposes, all persons in the autopsy suite shall be informed of the risks presented by bloodborne pathogens and that they should wear personal protective equipment in accordance with the requirements described in Section 5193 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations or its successor.

(f) (1) Only individuals who are directly involved in the investigation of the death of the decedent shall be allowed into the autopsy suite.

(2) If an individual dies due to the involvement of law enforcement activity, law enforcement personnel directly involved in the death of that individual shall not be involved with any portion of the postmortem examination, nor allowed inside the autopsy suite during the performance of the autopsy.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), individuals may be permitted in the autopsy suite for educational and research purposes at the discretion of the coroner and in consultation with any licensed physician and surgeon conducting an autopsy.

(g) Any police reports, crime scene or other information, videos, or laboratory tests that are in the possession of law enforcement and are related to a death that is incident to law enforcement activity shall be made available to the physician and surgeon who conducts the autopsy prior to the completion of the investigation of the death.

(h) This section shall not be construed to limit the practice of an autopsy for educational or research purposes.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 389, Sec. 2. (AB 1108) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2.5. Autopsy


text:
(a) A coroner may test the bodily fluid extracted during the autopsy of a deceased person to determine if any amount, including a trace amount, of xylazine was present at the time of the person’s death in either of the following circumstances:

(1) The coroner reasonably suspects that the cause of the person’s death was an accidental or intentional overdose of an opioid.

(2) The person was administered an overdose intervention drug prior to death and was unresponsive to the overdose intervention drug.

(b) If the coroner conducts a test pursuant to subdivision (a), the coroner shall report a positive result indicating the presence of xylazine to the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program managed by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program and provide the State Department of Public Health with a quarterly report on positive results that includes the total number of tests performed and the State File Number from the death certificate of each positive case.

(c) The department shall post the following information on the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard located on the department’s internet website:

(1) The total number of xylazine-positive results reported to the department.

(2) The number of xylazine-positive results by county.

(3) The number of xylazine-positive overdose deaths, per 100,000 population.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 684, Sec. 1. (AB 1859) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2.5. Autopsy


text: If the coroner is absent or unable to attend, the duties of his office may be discharged by any of his deputies with like authority and subject to the same obligations and penalties as the coroner.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 3. Vacancy

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 10. Coroner > 3. Vacancy


text: The surveyor shall be a person authorized to practice land surveying in this state. The surveyor shall be elected in the same manner and for the same term as other county officers unless the board of supervisors of the county shall have provided by ordinance for his or her appointment by the board. If so appointed, the surveyor shall serve at the will of the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 116, Sec. 1.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 11. Surveyor

article: 1. Duties Generally

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 11. Surveyor > 1. Duties Generally


text: The qualifications for eligibility to a county or district office, required by Section 24001 of this Code, shall not apply to candidates or applicants for, or a person elected or appointed to, the office of surveyor in a county containing a population of under 20,000 as determined by the 1960 federal decennial census.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 2091.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: Notwithstanding Section 27550, in Solano County, the county surveyor is not an elected position and may be appointed by the Director of Transportation if the board of supervisors have so provided by ordinance for that appointment. If so appointed, the surveyor shall serve at the will of the director.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 407, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2006.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: The surveyor shall make any survey that is required by order of court or the board of supervisors. He shall keep a correct and fair record of all surveys made by him, number them in the order made, and preserve a copy of the field notes and calculations of each survey, and shall endorse thereon its proper number. A copy of the survey and a fair and accurate plat, together with a certificate of survey, shall be furnished by him to any person upon application and payment of the fees allowed by law.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 1433.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: Any person owning or claiming land which is divided by county lines and who wishes to have it surveyed may apply to the surveyor of any county in which any part of the land is situated. Upon such application, the surveyor shall make the survey, which is as valid as though the land were situated entirely within the county.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: When the title of land which is in dispute before any court, is divided by a county line, the court making an order of survey may direct the order to the surveyor of any county in which any part of the land is situated.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: When required the surveyor shall aid and assist the State Lands Commission in making surveys within the county.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: When the surveyor is interested in any land, the title to which is in dispute, and a survey is necessary, the court shall direct the survey to be made by some disinterested person. The person so appointed is for that purpose authorized to administer and certify oaths. He shall return the survey, verified by his annexed affidavit, and receive for his services the same fees as the surveyor would be entitled to for similar service.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: The surveyor shall copy, plat, or trace each map filed for record in the office of the county recorder, at the cost of the party filing the map, and is ex officio deputy recorder for the county for such purposes. All maps or plats filed by a licensed land surveyor and such other maps and plats as are filed and are thereby made a record are exempt from this section.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: The surveyor shall plat, trace, blueprint, or otherwise make all county, road, district, and other maps and, at the request of the assessor, make all assessors’ block-books for the county.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1187, Sec. 4.5. Effective January 1, 1994.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text:
The board of supervisors may provide and pay from county funds for the making or purchase of the maps and block-books by contract with some other competent person, if any of the following conditions exist:

(a) The office of the assessor is not provided with maps and block-books.

(b) The maps or block-books in the office of the assessor are insufficient or defective and the surveyor neglects or refuses to make them.

(c) The facilities of the surveyor’s office are inadequate to do so.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: In the preparation of assessors’ maps and block-books the surveyor shall make all investigations and surveys necessary to provide complete and accurate maps.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: All maps which are platted, traced, blueprinted, or otherwise so made for the county and all data obtained by the surveyor or person making them from other sources is the property of the county.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: The board of supervisors may provide for the sale at not less than cost of copies of maps prepared for the use of the assessor.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: The surveyor shall make such surveys of county roads and perform such other engineering work as the board of supervisors directs. All surveys shall be tied by courses and distances to the corners of legal subdivisions through which they pass or to natural or artificial monuments. All such maps and field notes of surveys shall be filed in the office of the surveyor and are the property of the county.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: In all surveys the courses shall be expressed according to the true meridian, and the variation of the magnetic meridian from the true meridian shall be expressed on the plat with the date of the survey.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text:
Within 90 days after making any survey which adjoins or crosses any lands owned by the State, excluding tax-deeded lands but including school lands, swamp and overflow lands, or tidelands, any navigable stream or slough, or any county boundary, each surveyor shall transmit to the State Lands Commission a plat of the survey, showing all data necessary to establish the relative positions of all lines and boundaries involved in that portion of the survey affecting the interests of the State. The State Lands Commission may require the surveyor to submit a copy of any portion of the field notes, in which case the commission shall pay the surveyor the cost of copying the notes.

The surveyor shall also transmit such information concerning surveys made by him and other matters connected with the duties of his office as is required by law to be furnished to the State Lands Commission.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 1. Duties Generally


text: If in the performance of his official duties any surveyor finds a government corner which has been marked by a government surveyor by placing charcoal in the ground or a wooden stake, earth mound, or other perishable monument, he shall remark the corner by placing therein a monument of heavily galvanized iron pipe or galvanized iron stake not less than two inches in diameter and not less than two feet long, or other monument not less in size and equally imperishable.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Survey Markers

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 11. Surveyor > 2. Survey Markers


text: All monuments located in public highways shall be placed with the top not less than 12 inches below the surface of the ground, but when not located in public highways, they shall be placed with the top six inches above the surface of the ground. If the top of the monument is placed above the ground and is of metal, it shall be not less than four feet long.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Survey Markers


text: The surveyor shall note witness objects that are within a reasonable distance of any corner, and state distance and course from the corner. He shall record the note in a properly indexed record book in the county surveyor’s office. The book is a public record.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Survey Markers


text: The board of supervisors shall furnish all necessary pipes or stakes for monuments in the county on demand and without cost.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Survey Markers


text:
The board may establish a survey monument preservation fund to pay the necessary expenses incurred or authorized by the county surveyor in any retracement or remonument survey of major historical land division lines upon which later surveys are based, such as, but not limited to, government section lines, rancho lines, grant lines, rancho section lines, acreage subdivision lot lines, and subdivision boundary lines within such county.

The county surveyor may authorize a city engineer to perform such surveys within subject city or may contract with any surveyor in private practice to perform such surveys. When a city engineer or contract surveyor performs such surveys, he shall submit notes of such surveys to the county surveyor. Such notes shall be of the quality and size as may be necessary to conform to the standardized office records of the county surveyor. The county surveyor shall prepare a map of the survey and make such map a part of his public records within 90 days after completion of his fieldwork.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 881.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Survey Markers


text:
(a) For the limited purpose of financing the survey monument preservation fund pursuant to Section 27584, the board may impose a user fee, not to exceed ten dollars ($10), or an amount set pursuant to Section 54985, which shall be charged and collected by the county recorder, over and above any other fees required by law, as a condition precedent to the filing or recording of any grant deed conveying real property. Grant deeds conveying lots created by recorded tract maps shall be exempt from the user fee. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), the fees shall be forwarded monthly by the county recorder to the county treasurer for deposit to the county survey monument preservation fund. Following the establishment of the fund, the board of supervisors may extinguish the fund if a finding is made by the board that the need for the fund no longer exists.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or (c), if a city engineer of a city with a population of more than 1,500,000 persons conducts the survey pursuant to Section 27584, any user fees collected pursuant to subdivision (a) on and after January 1, 1987, with respect to any grant deed conveying real property located wholly within the city shall be transferred monthly by the county recorder to the city treasurer of the city to reimburse the city for the expenses incurred by the city engineer in conducting that survey.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 2231 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), no funds collected by the county recorder for the survey monument preservation fund shall be transferred to, or deposited in, any other fund or used for any other purpose.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 334, Sec. 1.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 2. Survey Markers


text: The board of supervisors shall provide for the use of the surveyor a suitable office, office furniture, heat, light, and care for the office. It shall provide office and record books, and other necessary material. The board shall pay all necessary expenses and transportation on work performed in the field.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 3. Expenses and Fees

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 11. Surveyor > 3. Expenses and Fees


text: The surveyor shall charge and collect such fees as are allowed by law.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

article: 3. Expenses and Fees


text: In any county a county counsel may be appointed by the board of supervisors.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1341.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 12. County Counsel

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 12. County Counsel


text:
The county counsel shall serve for four years from the time of his appointment and until his successor is appointed, subject to the following:

(a) He may be removed at any time by proceedings under Article 3 (commencing at Section 3060) of Chapter 7 of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(b) He may be removed at any time by the board of supervisors for neglect of duty, malfeasance or misconduct in office, or other good cause shown, upon written accusation to be filed with the board of supervisors, by a person not a member of the board, and heard by the board and sustained by a three-fifths vote of the board. When an accusation has been so filed with the board, the board may direct the district attorney to investigate and present the accusation or may employ private counsel for that purpose. All testimony before the board shall be under oath or affirmation administered by the board. The board is hereby vested with the power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers and testimony and shall make such processes available to the accused. A copy of the accusation shall be personally served upon the accused and he shall be given not less than 10 days’ time in which to file a written answer to the accusation. If, after hearing, it appears to the satisfaction of the board that the accusation has been substantiated, the board shall so notify the accused by mail. Such notice shall specifically state the findings and judgment of the board, and the board shall thereupon forthwith remove the accused from office and shall immediately appoint his successor.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1959, Ch. 1389.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The residence qualifications for eligibility to a county or district office, required by Section 24001, may be waived by the board of supervisors as to any candidate or applicant for the office of county counsel in such county.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1383.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Whenever the board of supervisors appoints a county counsel pursuant to this chapter, he shall discharge all the duties vested by law in the district attorney other than those of a public prosecutor.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The board of supervisors may by ordinance require that the county counsel shall act as attorney for the public administrator in all estates in which he or she is executor, administrator with the will annexed, or administrator, where he or she has priority for appointment as established by law, including all cases under Section 7660 of the Probate Code. However, in the case of a noncharter county or a charter county where there is no conflict with the county charter, the public administrator may employ private counsel (a) in those estates in which he or she is nominated and would not otherwise have priority, (b) for those estates in which he or she is appointed administrator with the will annexed, or administrator pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 8400) of Division 7 of the Probate Code, and (c) in those estates in which he or she is appointed administrator with the will annexed for the reason the executor nominated in the will has refused to serve. In those matters where the county counsel furnishes representation the county counsel shall collect the attorney’s fees allowed by law and pay them into the county treasury.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1199, Sec. 19. Operative July 1, 1989, by Sec. 119 of Ch. 1199.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The board of supervisors shall furnish the county counsel with such assistants as will enable him to perform properly the duties of his office.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
Subject to Section 26520, the county counsel shall represent and advise the officers and employees of special districts organized within the county and shall have exclusive charge and control of all civil actions and proceedings in which special districts, their officers or employees are concerned or are parties when:

(a) The governing board of the special district requests the county counsel to so act;

(b) The governing board of the special district is composed in whole or in part of persons who are also members of the county board of supervisors; and

(c) No specific provision is made in the law under which the special district is organized for the district to obtain legal services.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 800.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Upon designation by the board of supervisors pursuant to Section 5114 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the county counsel shall represent the county in proceedings under Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1627.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) If requested to do so by the Judicial Council, and insofar as these duties are not in conflict with, and do not interfere with, other duties, the county counsel may represent the superior court or a judge thereof in all matters and questions of law pertaining to any of the judge’s duties, including any representation authorized by Section 68111 and representation in all civil actions and proceedings in any court in which with respect to the court’s or judge’s official capacity, the court or judge is concerned or is a party.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Any criminal proceedings in which a judge is a defendant.

(2) Any grand jury proceedings.

(3) Any proceeding before the Commission on Judicial Performance.

(4) Any civil action or proceeding arising out of facts under which the judge was convicted of a criminal offense in a criminal proceeding.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 478, Sec. 40. (AB 1756) Effective January 1, 2024.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The board of supervisors of any county may establish the office of public defender for the county. Any county may join with one or more counties to establish and maintain the office of public defender to serve such counties.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 13. Public Defender

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 13. Public Defender


text: A person is not eligible to the office of public defender unless he has been a practicing attorney in all of the courts of the State for at least the year preceding the date of his election or appointment.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: At the time of establishing the office the board of supervisors shall determine whether the public defender is to be appointed or elected.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: If the public defender of any county is to be appointed, he shall be appointed by the board of supervisors to serve at its will. The public defender of any two or more counties shall be appointed by the boards of supervisors of such counties.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
If the public defender is to be elected:

(a) The board of supervisors shall appoint a public defender who shall hold office until the first Monday in January following the next general election of county officers.

(b) The first election of a public defender shall be held at the first general election of county officials after the establishment of the office.

(c) The term of office of the public defender is four years from and after the first Monday in January following his election.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: In counties of the first, second and third classes, the public defender shall devote all his time to the duties of his office and shall not engage in the practice of law except in the capacity of public defender.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: A public defender shall not during his incumbency defend or assist in the defense of, or act as counsel for, any person accused of any crime in any county, except as set forth in this chapter.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1288.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
The public defender shall perform the following duties:

(a) Upon request of the defendant or upon order of the court, the public defender shall defend, without expense to the defendant, any person who is not financially able to employ counsel and who is charged with the commission of any contempt or offense triable in the superior courts at all stages of the proceedings, including the preliminary examination. The public defender shall, upon request, give counsel and advice to such person about any charge against the person upon which the public defender is conducting the defense, and shall prosecute all appeals to a higher court or courts of any person who has been convicted, where, in the opinion of the public defender, the appeal will or might reasonably be expected to result in the reversal or modification of the judgment of conviction.

(b) Upon request, the public defender shall prosecute actions for the collection of wages and other demands of any person who is not financially able to employ counsel, where the sum involved does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100), and where, in the judgment of the public defender, the claim urged is valid and enforceable in the courts.

(c) Upon request, the public defender shall defend any person who is not financially able to employ counsel in any civil litigation in which, in the judgment of the public defender, the person is being persecuted or unjustly harassed.

(d) Upon request, or upon order of the court, the public defender shall represent any person who is not financially able to employ counsel in proceedings under Division 4 (commencing with Section 1400) of the Probate Code and Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(e) Upon order of the court, the public defender shall represent any person who is entitled to be represented by counsel but is not financially able to employ counsel in proceedings under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 500) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(f) Upon order of the court the public defender shall represent any person who is required to have counsel pursuant to Section 686.1 of the Penal Code.

(g) Upon the order of the court or upon the request of the person involved, the public defender may represent any person who is not financially able to employ counsel in a proceeding of any nature relating to the nature or conditions of detention, of other restrictions prior to adjudication, of treatment, or of punishment resulting from criminal or juvenile proceedings.

(h) This section shall become operative July 1, 2021.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 12) and added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 92, Sec. 13. (AB 1869) Effective September 18, 2020. Operative July 1, 2021, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) The court in which the proceeding is pending may make the final determination in each case as to whether a defendant or person described in Section 27706 is financially able to employ counsel and qualifies for the services of the public defender. The public defender shall, however, render legal services as provided in subdivisions (a), (b) and (c) of Section 27706 for any person the public defender determines is not financially able to employ counsel until such time as a contrary determination is made by the court. If a contrary determination is made, the public defender thereafter may not render services for such person except in a proceeding to review the determination of that issue or in an unrelated proceeding. In order to assist the court or public defender in making the determination, the court or the public defender may require a defendant or person requesting services of the public defender to file a financial statement under penalty of perjury. The financial statement shall be confidential and privileged and shall not be admissible as evidence in any criminal proceeding except the prosecution of an alleged offense of perjury based upon false material contained in the financial statement. The financial statement shall be made available to the prosecution only for purposes of investigation of an alleged offense of perjury based upon false material contained in the financial statement at the conclusion of the proceedings for which such financial statement was required to be submitted.

(b) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2021.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 14) and added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 92, Sec. 15. (AB 1869) Effective September 18, 2020. Operative July 1, 2021, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
The boards of supervisors of two or more counties may authorize their respective public defenders to enter into reciprocal or mutual assistance agreements whereby a deputy public defender of one county may be assigned on a temporary basis to perform public defender duties in the county to which he has been assigned in actions or proceedings in which the public defender of the county to which the deputy has been assigned has properly refused to represent a party because of a conflict of interest or because of some other present inability.

For purposes of this section, the term “present inability” shall include a lack of personnel, lack of expertise, or lack of other resources by the local office.

Whenever a deputy public defender is assigned to perform public defender duties in another county pursuant to such an agreement, the county to which he is assigned shall reimburse the county in which he is regularly employed in an amount equal to the portion of his regular salary for the time he performs public defender duties in the county to which he has been assigned. The deputy public defender shall also receive from the county to which he has been assigned the amount of actual and necessary traveling and other expenses incurred by him in traveling between his regular place of employment and the place of employment in the county to which he has been assigned.

A board of supervisors may also authorize the reciprocal or mutual assistance agreements provided for in this section with the State Public Defender.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 323, Sec. 59.5. Effective July 1, 1983.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: In each county the board of supervisors shall provide suitable rooms for the use of the public defender and office furniture and supplies with which to properly conduct the business of his office. Such expenses are a charge upon the county or counties in which the public defender is employed.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The expense of printing or typewriting the briefs on appeal on behalf of a defendant represented by a public defender is a county charge.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The public defender shall keep a record of all services rendered by him in that capacity and shall file with the board or boards of supervisors annually a written report of his services.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The annual salary of each public defender shall be such as has been or may be fixed by the county or counties.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The board of supervisors of any county may establish the office of county hearing officer. The duties of the office are to conduct hearings for the county or any board, agency, commission, or committee of the county.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 617, Sec. 4.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 14. Hearing Officer

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 14. Hearing Officer


text: When a state law or local ordinance provides that a hearing be held or that findings of fact or conclusions of law be made by any county board, agency, commission, or committee, the county hearing officer may be authorized by ordinance or resolution to conduct the hearing; to issue subpoenas; to receive evidence; to administer oaths; to rule on questions of law and the admissibility of evidence; and to prepare a record of the proceedings.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 617, Sec. 5.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) If the hearing officer is authorized to decide a matter upon which a hearing has been held pursuant to Section 27721, the officer shall render a written decision, including any findings or conclusions required for that decision, and submit the decision and the record to the clerk of the local body on whose behalf the hearing was held.

(b) If the hearing officer is not authorized to decide a matter upon which a hearing has been held pursuant to Section 27221, the officer shall prepare a recommended decision, including any findings or conclusions required for that decision, and shall submit that recommendation and the record to the clerk of the local body on whose behalf the hearing was held. The local body may adopt the recommended findings, conclusions, and decision, or may reject the recommendation and enter its own findings, conclusions, and decision after a review of the record.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 617, Sec. 6.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The local body may, but need not be present during the proceeding.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 480.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Any county hearing officer, or any deputy or assistant hearing officer, appointed pursuant to this chapter, shall be an attorney at law having been admitted to practice before the courts of this state for at least five years prior to his or her appointment.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 617, Sec. 7.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Any other local public entity may contract with the county to employ the services of the county hearing officer. The duties and responsibilities of the hearing officer described in Sections 27721 and 27722 shall be set forth in the contract. Reimbursement to the county for the services of a county hearing officer shall be made as provided in the contract. If no provision for reimbursement is contained in the contract, reimbursement shall be made on a pro rata basis of actual cost to the county in providing the service including salaries, benefits, overhead, and any travel expense.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 617, Sec. 8.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Such contracting entity is authorized to conduct its hearings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Any county or other local public entity may contract with the Office of Administrative Hearings of the State of California, and the office is hereby authorized to contract for services for an administrative law judge or a hearing officer to conduct proceedings pursuant to this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 324, Sec. 26.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The provisions of this chapter provide an alternative to, and do not supersede, any other provision of law providing for any matter to be heard or determined by a hearing officer.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1985, Ch. 617, Sec. 9.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) The board of supervisors of any county may designate a county officer to make financial evaluations of defendants and other persons liable for reimbursable costs under the law. A county officer so designated shall be known as the county financial evaluation officer, whose duties shall be to determine, according to the standards set by the board of supervisors and at the direction of the court, the financial ability of parties who have incurred, or will incur, court-related or court-ordered costs, which costs by law must be waived or the services provided free of charge if the party is indigent.

(b) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2021.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 17) and added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 92, Sec. 18. (AB 1869) Effective September 18, 2020. Operative July 1, 2021, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 15. County Financial Evaluation Officer

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 15. County Financial Evaluation Officer


text: A county financial evaluation officer is authorized to perform the functions of a probation officer set forth in Sections 275, 276, and 323 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and Sections 1685 to 1687, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1485, Sec. 2.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) A county financial evaluation officer is authorized to make financial evaluations and collect moneys pursuant to Section 3112 of the Family Code, Sections 1203.1, 1203.1c, 1205, and 1209 of the Penal Code, and Sections 353, 376, 700, 727, 751, 903, 903.1, 903.2, 903.3, and 903.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2021.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 19) and added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 92, Sec. 20. (AB 1869) Effective September 18, 2020. Operative July 1, 2021, by its own provisions.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
Notwithstanding any provision of the Penal Code to the contrary, in any court where a county financial evaluation officer is available, if there are any costs which a person might have to reimburse the county for under the Penal Code based on his or her financial ability at the conclusion of the proceedings, the court shall order such person to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, who shall make an inquiry into such person’s ability to pay these costs, as well as other court-related costs. When the person is so ordered to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, the court shall then determine if there are other costs which he or she might have to pay that depend on his or her financial ability, and if so, shall order that the county financial evaluation officer make an inquiry into the person’s ability to pay all or a portion of all such costs. The person shall have the right to dispute the county financial officer’s evaluation, in which case he or she shall be entitled to a hearing pursuant to Section 27755 of the Government Code in the court that concluded the proceedings.

If the person, after having been ordered to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, has been given proper notice and fails to appear before the county financial evaluation officer as ordered, the county financial evaluation officer shall recommend to the court that the person be ordered to pay the full amount of such costs. Proper notice to the person shall contain all of the following:

(a) That he or she has a right to a statement of such cost as soon as it is available.

(b) The person’s procedural rights under Section 27755 of the Government Code.

(c) The time limit within which the person’s appearance is required.

(d) A warning that if the person fails to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, such officer will recommend that the court order the person to pay such cost in full.

If the county financial evaluation officer determines that the person has the ability to pay all or a portion of these costs, with or without terms, and he or she concurs in this determination and agrees to the terms of payment, the county financial evaluation officer, upon his or her written evaluation and the person’s written agreement, shall petition the court for an order requiring the person to pay that sum to the county in a manner which is reasonable and compatible with the person’s financial ability. This order need not be obtained in the court which concluded the proceedings, and may be granted without further notice to the person, provided a copy of the order is served on the person by mail.

However, if the county financial evaluation officer cannot reach an agreement with the person with respect to either the person’s liability for the costs, the amount of such costs, his or her ability to pay the same, or the terms of payment, the matter shall be deemed in dispute and referred by the county financial evaluation officer back to the court for a hearing pursuant to Section 27755 of the Government Code.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) At any hearing required by law to determine a person’s ability to pay court-related costs, such person shall have the right to be heard in person and to be represented by counsel, to present witnesses and other evidence, to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses, to have the evidence against him or her disclosed to him or her, and to have a written statement of the findings of the court. A defendant represented by counsel appointed by the court in the criminal proceedings shall be entitled to such representation at any hearing held pursuant to this section. If the court determines that such person has the ability to pay all or a part of the costs, the court may set the amount to be reimbursed and order him or her to pay that sum to the county in the manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with his or her financial ability.

Failure of any such person who is not in custody to appear after proper notice for his or her financial evaluation before a county financial evaluation officer, or for this hearing, is a sufficient basis for an order directing the person to pay the full cost of his or her court-related costs as determined by the court. Proper notice to the person shall contain all of the following:

(1) That he or she has a right to a statement of such cost as soon as it is available.

(2) The person’s procedural rights under this section.

(3) The time limit within which the person’s appearance is required.

(4) A warning that if the person fails to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, the county financial evaluation officer will recommend that the court order the person to pay such cost in full.

The order to pay all or a part of such costs may be enforced in the manner provided for enforcement of money judgments generally, including any balance remaining unpaid at the end of the person’s probationary period, but may not be enforced by contempt unless otherwise provided for by law.

Any order entered under this subdivision is subject to relief under the provisions of Section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(b) As used in this section:

(1) “Legal assistance” means legal counsel and supportive services including, but not limited to, medical and psychiatric examinations, investigative services, expert testimony and any other form of services provided to assist the person in the preparation and presentation of the person’s case.

(2) “Ability to pay” means the overall capability of the person to reimburse the costs, or a portion of the costs involved and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) The person’s present financial position.

(B) The person’s reasonably discernible future financial position. In no event shall the court consider a period of more than six months from the date of the hearing or evaluation, whichever is applicable, for purposes of determining the person’s reasonably discernible future financial position. Unless the court finds unusual circumstances, a defendant sentenced to state prison shall be determined not to have a reasonably discernible future financial ability to reimburse the costs involved, and need not be referred to the county financial evaluation officer for a financial evaluation.

(C) The likelihood that the person shall be able to obtain employment within a six-month period from the date of the hearing or evaluation, whichever is applicable.

(D) Any other factor or factors which may bear upon the person’s financial capability to reimburse the county for the costs involved.

(c) If the court determines that the person has the ability to pay all or a part of the cost, the court shall set the amount to be reimbursed and order the person to pay the sum to the county in a manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the person’s financial ability. Failure of a person who is not in custody to appear at the evaluation or the hearing after due notice is sufficient grounds for an order directing the person to pay the amount of such costs as determined by the court. The order to pay all or a part of the costs may be enforced in the manner provided for enforcement of money judgments generally, but may not be enforced by contempt.

An order entered pursuant to this subdivision is subject to relief under Section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(d) At any time during the pendency of the judgment rendered according to the terms of this section, a person against whom a judgment has been rendered may petition the rendering court to modify or vacate said judgment on the grounds of a change in circumstances with regard to the person’s ability to pay the judgment. The court shall advise the person of this right at the time it renders the judgment.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Notwithstanding Section 903.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, in any county where the board of supervisors has designated a county financial evaluation officer, the county financial evaluation officer shall make financial evaluations of parental liability for reimbursements and other court-ordered costs pursuant to Sections 903, 903.1, 903.2, 903.3, and 903.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as directed by the board of supervisors, or as established by order of the juvenile court, and may enforce the court order as any other civil judgment, including any balance remaining unpaid after jurisdiction of the minor has terminated.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 27556 (as added by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1485) by Stats. 1986, Ch. 248, Sec. 84.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) Except as otherwise ordered by the juvenile court, a county financial evaluation officer, upon satisfactory proof, may reduce, cancel, or remit the costs and charges listed in Sections 903, 903.1, 903.2, 903.3, and 903.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or established by order of the juvenile court.

(b) The county financial evaluation officer may, following entry of an order by the juvenile court that a minor person be represented by the public defender or private attorney or be placed or detained in, or committed to, a county institution or other place, make an investigation to determine the moneys, the property, or interest in property, if any, the minor person has, and whether he or she has a duly appointed and acting guardian to protect his or her property interests. The county financial evaluation officer may also make an investigation to determine whether the minor person has any relative or relatives responsible under the provisions of this chapter, and may ascertain the financial condition of that relative or those relatives to determine whether they are financially able to pay those charges.

(c) In any case where a county has expended money for the support and maintenance of any dependent child or other minor person, or has furnished support and maintenance, and the court has not made an order of reimbursement to the county, in whole or in part, as provided by law, or the court has made and subsequently revoked that order, if the dependent child or other minor person or parent, guardian, or other person liable for the support of the dependent child or other minor person acquires property, money, or estate subsequent to the date the juvenile court assumed jurisdiction over the dependent child or minor person, or subsequent to the date the order of reimbursement was revoked, the county shall have a claim for that reimbursement against the dependent child or other minor person or parent, guardian or other person responsible for the support and maintenance. The claim shall be enforced by the county financial evaluation officer or the local child support agency, as the case may be.

(d) (1) This section does not apply to a minor who is adjudged a ward of the juvenile court, who is placed on probation pursuant to Section 725 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, who is the subject of a petition that has been filed to adjudge the minor a ward of the juvenile court, or who is the subject of a program of supervision undertaken pursuant to Section 654 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), this section applies to a minor who is designated as a dual status child pursuant to Section 241.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for purposes of the dependency jurisdiction only and not for purposes of the delinquency jurisdiction.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 678, Sec. 1. (SB 190) Effective January 1, 2018.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
Any report of the county financial evaluation officer filed with the court may be inspected or copied only as follows:

(a) By any person, from the date judgment is pronounced or probation granted or, in the case of a report arising out of a previous arrest, from the date the subsequent accusatory pleading is filed, to and including 60 days from the date judgment is pronounced or probation is granted, whichever is earlier.

(b) By any person, at any time, by order of the court, upon filing a petition therefor by such person.

(c) By the general public, if the court upon its own motion orders that a report or reports shall be open or that the contents of the report or reports shall be disclosed.

(d) By any person authorized or required by law to inspect or receive copies of the report.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) A chief probation officer shall be appointed in every county. He or she shall be nominated by the juvenile justice commission or regional juvenile justice commission of the county in the same manner as the presiding judge, in a county with two judges, or a majority of the judges, in a county with more than two judges, shall prescribe, and shall thereafter be appointed by the presiding judge or majority of judges. The salary for the position shall be established by the board of supervisors of the county. He or she may be removed for good cause as determined by the presiding judge or majority of judges.

(b) In counties with charters that provide for appointment and tenure of office for the chief probation officer, the provisions of the charter shall control as to those matters and, in counties that have established or hereafter establish merit or civil service systems governing the methods of appointment and the tenure for the chief probation officer, the provisions of the merit or civil service systems shall control as to those matters. In all other counties, appointment and tenure of the chief probation officer shall be controlled exclusively by the provisions of this code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 17, Sec. 16. (AB 103) Effective June 27, 2017.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 16. Chief Probation Officer

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 16. Chief Probation Officer


text:
(a) The chief probation officer shall perform the duties and discharge the obligations imposed on the office by law or by order of the superior court, including the following:

(1) Community supervision of offenders subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 602 or 1766 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) Operation of juvenile halls pursuant to Section 852 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) Operation of juvenile camps and ranches established under Section 880 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(4) Community supervision of individuals subject to probation pursuant to conditions imposed under Section 1203 of the Penal Code.

(5) Community supervision of individuals subject to mandatory supervision pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code.

(6) Community supervision of individuals subject to postrelease community supervision pursuant to Section 3451 of the Penal Code.

(7) Administration of community-based corrections programming, including, but not limited to, programs authorized by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1228) of Title 8 of Part 2 of the Penal Code.

(8) Serving as chair of the Community Corrections Partnership pursuant to Section 1230 of the Penal Code.

(9) Making recommendations to the court, including, but not limited to, pre-sentence investigative reports pursuant to Sections 1203.7 and 1203.10 of the Penal Code.

(b) The chief probation officer may perform other duties that are consistent with those enumerated in subdivision (a) and may accept appointment to the Board of State and Community Corrections and collect the per diem authorized by Section 6025.1 of the Penal Code.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) Except as provided in Section 69906.5, the chief probation officer may appoint deputies, assistants, and other persons, and their compensation shall be established according to the provisions of the county’s merit systems or civil service systems. If no merit systems or civil service systems exist in the county, the board of supervisors shall provide for appointment, removal, and compensation of this personnel.

(b) A deputy or assistant to the chief probation officer shall not have authority to act until his or her appointment has been approved by the juvenile justice commission or regional juvenile justice commission and by the presiding judge or majority of judges. The term of office of a deputy or assistant shall expire with the term of the chief probation officer who appointed the deputy or assistant, but the chief probation officer may revoke and terminate the appointment at any time.

(c) This section applies in any charter county with a charter establishing the office of chief probation officer or adult probation officer and provides for the appointment of the officer in accordance with general law, subject to the merit system provisions of the charter.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The office of chief probation officer shall not be consolidated with any other office, nor shall the services provided by the chief probation officer be integrated with or reorganized into any other office or department of the county.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Unless the board of supervisors of a county provides by ordinance for more frequent pay periods, the salaries of the officers named in this title and all county deputies, clerks, and employees who are entitled to salaries shall be paid monthly out of the county treasury. The sworn statement and copy of the treasurer’s receipt for all fees and other money required to be paid into the county treasury required by Section 28005 shall be required to be filed in such event only prior to payment of the final installment of the salary of any officer for any month.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1328.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 1. General

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 1. General


text: Except in those counties in which the board of supervisors has by ordinance fixed a different schedule of dates or pay periods for the payment of salaries of the officers, deputies, clerks and employees of the several departments and institutions of the county government, as authorized in Section 28003, the auditor shall, on the first day of each month, or the first day following the specified pay period draw his warrant upon the treasurer in favor of each officer, deputy, clerk, and employee for the amount of salary due him for the preceding month or pay period.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: On presentation the treasurer shall pay the warrants out of the salary fund of the county treasury.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text:
(a) In any county the board of supervisors may by ordinance fix a date or schedule of dates for the payment of salaries of the officers, deputies, clerks, and employees of the several departments and institutions of the county government.

(b) If the county processes the payroll of the trial courts in that county, the board of supervisors shall also fix a date or schedule of dates for the payment of salaries of those judges and other officers and employees of the trial courts whose salaries are processed by the county.

(c) In any court that processes its own payroll, the court shall fix a date or schedule of dates for the payment of the salaries of the judges and other officers and the employees of that court.

(d) Nothing in this section shall affect the processing by the state of payroll for judges.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 824, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2002.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: If the board of supervisors by ordinance so provides, the salaries of all county officers, deputies, clerks, and employees, including the employees of the several road districts, may be paid monthly out of the county treasury on warrants drawn by the auditor upon the treasurer in favor of each of the officers, deputies, clerks, and employees.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The auditor shall not draw his or her warrant for the salary of any officer for any month until the officer has first filed with him or her the forms required by Section 24353.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1226, Sec. 5.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no officer or employee of a county shall be liable for any acts done by him, prior to June 2, l955, in connection with having paid the monthly salary of an employee of such county if such employee has performed, during the month for which he is paid, the duties required for the position for which he is paid.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1955, Ch. 331.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The board of supervisors may designate one or more state or national banks, one or more state or federal savings and loan associations, or one or more state or federal credit unions, doing business in the county as disbursing agent for the auditor to pay the salaries of such persons whose salaries are paid from the county treasury as may from time to time elect by a written instrument delivered to the auditor, to receive their salaries from such disbursing agent. In lieu of drawing separate salary warrants for such persons as shall have elected to be paid their salaries by such disbursing agent, the auditor may deliver to such disbursing agent a single warrant for the total combined salaries of such persons on or before the designated payday, together with the information necessary to disburse such salaries. The board of supervisors may enter into written contracts with such state and national banks, state or federal savings and loan associations, or state and federal credit unions, for their services as such disbursing agents on such terms as the board deems appropriate.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 40, Sec. 1.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: The population of the counties of this state is hereby ascertained and determined to be and is as follows: 1Los Angeles 7,032,075 2Orange 1,420,386 3San Diego 1,357,854 4Alameda 1,073,184 5Santa Clara 1,064,714 6San Francisco 715,674 7San Bernardino 684,072 8Sacramento 631,498 9Contra Costa 558,38910San Mateo 556,23411Riverside 459,07412Fresno 413,05313Ventura 376,43014Kern 329,16215San Joaquin 290,20816Santa Barbara 264,32417Monterey 250,07118Marin 206,03819Sonoma 204,88520Stanislaus 194,50621Tulare 188,32222Solano 169,94123Santa Cruz 123,79024San Luis Obispo 105,69025Merced 104,62926Butte 101,96927Humboldt 99,69228Yolo 91,78829Napa 79,14030Shasta 77,64031Placer 77,30632Imperial 74,49233Kings 64,61034Mendocino 51,10135Yuba 44,73636El Dorado 43,83337Sutter 41,93538Madera 41,51939Siskiyou 33,22540Tehama 29,51741Nevada 26,34642Tuolumne 22,16943Lake 19,54844San Benito 18,22645Glenn 17,52146Inyo 15,57147Lassen 14,96048Del Norte 14,58049Calaveras 13,58550Colusa 12,43051Amador 11,82152Plumas 11,70753Trinity 7,61554Modoc 7,46955Mariposa 6,01556Mono 4,01657Sierra 2,36558Alpine 484

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 1204.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES

chapter: 2. Classification of Counties

path: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES > 2. OFFICERS > 2. Classification of Counties


text: For the purpose of regulating the compensation of all officers provided for in this part, the several counties of the State are classified according to their population, as ascertained and determined in Section 28020, as set forth in this chapter.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 4,000,000 and over are counties of the first class.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1961, Ch. 43.)

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 1,400,000 and under 4,000,000 are counties of the second class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 1,300,000 and under 1,400,000 are counties of the third class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 1,070,000 and under 1,300,000 are counties of the fourth class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 1,000,000 and under 1,070,000 are counties of the fifth class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 700,000 and under 1,000,000 are counties of the sixth class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 650,000 and under 700,000 are counties of the seventh class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 600,000 and under 650,000 are counties of the eighth class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 558,000 and under 600,000 are counties of the ninth class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 500,000 and under 558,000 are counties of the 10th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 450,000 and under 500,000 are counties of the 11th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 400,000 and under 450,000 are counties of the 12th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 370,000 and under 400,000 are counties of the 13th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 300,000 and under 370,000 are counties of the 14th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 290,000 and under 300,000 are counties of the 15th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 260,000 and under 290,000 are counties of the 16th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 250,000 and under 260,000 are counties of the 17th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES


text: Counties containing a population of 205,000 and under 250,000 are counties of the 18th class.

title: 3. GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES