8.92.030 Payment Authorized.
A. The Department is authorized to reimburse a licensed funeral home and/or cemetery/ crematory for the minimum services set by the Department when such funeral home and/or cemetery/crematory has made a proper showing, according to rules devised by the Department, that:
1. it has, or will lawfully bury or cremate an indigent decedent, and
2. it made a diligent effort to locate relatives who may choose or are required to provide for the disposition, and
3. it made a diligent effort to ascertain the extent of the decedent's estate, and
4. the decedent was at the time of death located in Pierce County, and
5. the decedent was indigent and the body is unclaimed; PROVIDED, that each such reimbursement shall be conditioned upon a promise by the funeral home and/or cemetery/crematory to reimburse the County dollar for dollar from any funds it may subsequently acquire from any other source for the disposition services performed by it.
B. The Department shall provide reimbursement for disposition at the uniform rates established by the Department; PROVIDED that reimbursement for cremation shall be provided only upon a proper showing that legal authorization has been obtained. The Director or Director's designee may authorize cremation of indigent remains.