7-14-1. Fees and expenses allowable to coroner set by board.

The coroner shall receive fees and expenses as set by the board of county commissioners.

Source: SL 1881, ch 75, § 1; CL 1887, § 1414; RPolC 1903, § 1835; RC 1919, § 5974; SL 1933, ch 70; SDC 1939, § 12.1105; SL 1968, ch 16, § 4; SL 1984, ch 44, § 4A; SL 1985, ch 46, § 4; SL 1986, ch 63, § 3; SL 1988, ch 66, § 2; SL 2005, ch 44, § 1.

7-14-2. Reimbursement and source of payment of coroner's expenses.

The county coroner shall be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable expenditures incurred in the discharge of his duty as shall be approved by the board of county commissioners and which shall be paid out of the general fund of the county.

Source: SL 1881, ch 75, § 1; CL 1887, § 1414; RPolC 1903, § 1835; RC 1919, § 5974; SDC 1939, § 12.1105; SL 1968, ch 16, § 4.

7-14-3. Surrender or burial of body viewed by coroner.

The coroner shall cause the body of any deceased person which he is called upon to view to be delivered to the person entitled to receive it, if any there be; but if not, he shall cause it to be properly buried and the expense paid from any property found with the body.

Source: SL 1874-5, ch 27, § 103; PolC 1877, ch 21, § 81; CL 1887, § 676; RPolC 1903, § 911; SL 1909, ch 278; RC 1919, § 5969; SDC 1939, § 12.1102.

7-14-4. Offer of body to medical school--Burial if not requisitioned by school.

If sufficient property is not found on the body, the coroner shall forthwith give notice to the dean of the department of medicine of the University of South Dakota, specifying in such notice the probable cause of death; and upon the requisition of the dean of such department, he shall forward such body to the university at its expense, within twenty-four hours of the receipt of such requisition. If no such requisition be received within the time stated, it shall be the duty of the coroner to cause the body to be properly buried, and the expense thereof shall be paid by the county from the general fund.

Source: SL 1874-5, ch 27, § 103; PolC 1877, ch 21, § 81; CL 1887, § 676; RPolC 1903, § 911; SL 1909, ch 278; RC 1919, § 5969; SDC 1939, § 12.1102.

7-14-5. Delivery to county treasurer of property found on body--Action for recovery.

The coroner must within thirty days after an inquest upon a dead body deliver to the county treasurer any money or other property which may be found upon the body, not expended for burial expenses as provided in § 7-14-3, unless claimed in the meantime by the legal representatives of the decedent. If he fails to do so, the treasurer may proceed against him for its recovery by a civil action in the name of the county.

Source: PolC 1877, ch 21, § 84; CL 1887, § 679; RPolC 1903, § 914; RC 1919, § 5970; SDC 1939, § 12.1103.

7-14-6. Deposit and sale of property found on body--Delivery to decedent's estate.

Upon the delivery of any property to the treasurer, as provided in § 7-14-5, he must, if it be money, place it to the credit of the county; or, if it be other property, he must within thirty days sell it at public auction, upon reasonable notice, and place the proceeds to the credit of the county. If the money in the treasury be demanded within six years by the legal representatives of the decedent, the treasurer must pay it to them, after deducting the fees and expenses of the coroner and of the county in relation to the matter; or it may be paid at any time thereafter upon the order of the board of county commissioners.

Source: PolC 1877, ch 21, §§ 85, 86; CL 1887, §§ 680, 681; RPolC 1903, §§ 915, 916; RC 1919, §§ 5971, 5972; SDC 1939, § 12.1103.

7-14-7. Coroner to account for property before fees paid.

Before auditing and allowing any account of the coroner the board of county commissioners must require from him a statement in writing of any money or other property found upon persons on whom inquests have been held by him, verified by his oath, to the effect that the statement is true, and that the money or property mentioned in it has been delivered to the legal representatives of the decedent or to the county treasurer.

Source: PolC 1877, ch 21, § 87; CL 1887, § 682; RPolC 1903, § 917; RC 1919, § 5973; SDC 1939, § 12.1104.

7-14-8. Salary--Radio.

The coroner may receive a salary which shall be set by the board of county commissioners and the coroner may be furnished with a radio by the county capable of transmitting and receiving government bands.

Source: SL 1985, ch 48, § 1.

7-14-9. Appointment and compensation of deputies.

The coroner may appoint one or more deputies and each deputy shall receive fees and expenses as determined at the discretion of the board of the county commissioners. The deputy coroner may not receive a salary.

Source: SL 1985, ch 48, § 2; SL 2005, ch 45, § 1.

7-14-10. Training programs.

Each newly selected county coroner shall participate in the training program established by the Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission within one year of taking office. Each county coroner shall participate in and successfully complete an advanced or refresher training established by the commission at least every two years.

Source: SL 2010, ch 123, § 3.