Fee Assessed for Cremation or Burial at Sea Views

(1) A medical examiner, district medical examiner or forensic investigator designated by the chief medical examiner shall view a decedent intended for cremation or burial at sea and shall make a personal inquiry into the cause and manner of death. (2) A cremation or burial at sea shall only be authorized upon a determination by a medical examiner, district medical examiner or forensic investigator that no further examination or judicial inquiry is required. (3) The person with the proper legal authority to receive the decedent including surviving spouse, next of kin or friend as set forth in M.G.L. c. 38, § 13 either directly or through his authorized representative including, but not limited to, funeral director, shall pay a fee of $200 as set by the Secretary of Public Safety pursuant to M.G.L. c. 38, § 14 for said service. The fee shall be made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall be submitted in the form as prescribed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. (4) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, subject to legislative authorization, may retain a portion of said fees for the purpose of supporting the agency mission of providing comprehensive medicolegal investigative services.