Section 27521.

(a) Any postmortem examination or autopsy conducted at the discretion of a coroner upon an unidentified body or human remains shall be subject to this section.

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

(1) Taking of all available fingerprints and palms 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.

(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.

(c) The postmortem examination or autopsy of the unidentified body or remains may include full body X-rays.

(d) The coroner 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 (b).

(e) The body of an unidentified deceased person may not be cremated or buried until the jaws (maxilla and mandible with teeth) and other tissue samples are retained for future possible use. Unless the coroner has determined that the body of the unidentified deceased person has suffered significant deterioration or decomposition, the jaws shall not be removed until immediately before the body is cremated or buried. The coroner shall retain the jaws and other tissue samples for one year after a positive identification is made, and no civil or criminal challenges are pending, or indefinitely.

(f) If the coroner 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 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.

(g) If the coroner 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 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.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 284, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)