(2) When a medical examiner investigates the death of a person whose body is not claimed by a friend or relative within five days of the date of death, the sheriff or, in counties having a population of 400,000 or more, the medical examiner shall dispose of the body according to the provisions of ORS 97.170 to 97.210.
(3) If the medical examiner is unable to dispose of the body of a deceased person according to subsection (2) of this section, the medical examiner may order in writing that the body be either cremated, reduced or plainly and decently buried.
(4) The sheriff or medical examiner shall file a copy of the report of death, the order for disposition and a verified statement of the expenses of the cremation, reduction or burial with the board of county commissioners. The board of county commissioners shall pay such expenses, or any proportion thereof as may be available, from county funds annually budgeted for this purpose. [1973 c.408 §19; 1995 c.744 §16; 2013 c.366 §68; 2021 c.296 §25]
Note: The amendments to 146.121 by section 25, chapter 296, Oregon Laws 2021, become operative July 1, 2022. See section 33, chapter 296, Oregon Laws 2021. The text that is operative until July 1, 2022, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
(1) No person shall bury or otherwise dispose of the body of a person whose death required investigation, without having first obtained a burial or cremation permit, or a report of death completed and signed by a medical examiner.
(2) When a medical examiner investigates the death of a person whose body is not claimed by a friend or relative within five days of the date of death, the sheriff or, in counties having a population of 400,000 or more, the medical examiner shall dispose of the body according to the provisions of ORS 97.170 to 97.210.
(3) If the medical examiner is unable to dispose of the body of a deceased person according to subsection (2) of this section, the medical examiner may order in writing that the body be either cremated or plainly and decently buried.
(4) The sheriff or medical examiner shall file a copy of the report of death, the order for disposition and a verified statement of the expenses of the cremation or burial with the board of county commissioners. The board of county commissioners shall pay such expenses, or any proportion thereof as may be available, from county funds annually budgeted for this purpose.