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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Chapter 4717-17 | Indigent Burial and Cremation

 
 
 
Rule
Rule 4717-17-01 | Definitions.
 

As used in this chapter of the Administrative Code:

(A) "Local government entity" means any municipal corporation, village, or city as defined in sections 703.01 and 703.11 of the Revised Code and any township.

(B) "Indigent person" has the same meaning as section 9.15 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Authorized representative or designee" means an individual who stands in the place of the local government entity. The authorized representative or designee may act on behalf of the local government entity.

(D) "Costs of providing burials and cremations" means the actual costs charged or contracted to perform final disposition.

(E) "Fiscal year" means July first through June thirtieth of every calendar year.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 12:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4717.04, 269.10, 269.20
Amplifies: 4717
Five Year Review Date: 5/1/2027
Rule 4717-17-02 | Purpose.
 

The indigent burial and cremation support program shall be used to reimburse local government entities for the cost of providing burials or cremations to indigent deceased persons.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 12:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4717.04, 269.10, 269.20
Amplifies: 4717
Five Year Review Date: 5/1/2027
Rule 4717-17-03 | Reimbursement Application Form.
 

(A) An applicant shall provide the following information, if applicable, on the reimbursement application form:

(1) Name of the deceased;

(2) Decedent's address at the time of death;

(3) Date of birth;

(4) Date of death;

(5) Place of death;

(6) Race/nationality;

(7) Supplier identification number or federal identification number;

(8) Township or municipal corporation name;

(9) Name of authorized representative or designee submitting the application;

(10) Daytime telephone number;

(11) Email address;

(12) Disposition method;

(13) Date of burial or cremation;

(14) County;

(15) Zip code;

(16) Cost of burial or cremation;

(17) Date of burial transit permit or disposition permit;

(18) Name of licensed funeral director that performed disposition;

(19) Name of the cemetery or place of interment;

(20) Name of funeral home;

(21) Total reimbursement claim amount.

(B) An original or legible copy of the following documents, if applicable, shall be attached and submitted with the reimbursement application form:

(1) An affidavit or statement of indigency status determined by the local government entity;

(2) A statement of goods and services from the licensed funeral director;

(3) Receipts of charges and payments for goods and services;

(4) The cremation authorization form;

(5) The burial transit or disposition permit;

(6) If applicable, the contract or formal agreement between the local government entity and the funeral home to perform final disposition of indigent persons for the local government entity.

(C) When there is a dispute or question relating to the application, the board shall contact the local government entity, its authorized representative, or designee.

(D) The local government entity, its authorized representative, or designee shall submit the reimbursement application form to the board by electronic mail or mail.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 12:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4717.04, 269.10, 269.20
Amplifies: 4717
Five Year Review Date: 5/1/2027
Rule 4717-17-04 | Eligibility Requirements.
 

(A) The local government entity shall make the determination of the indigent status of the deceased person.

(B) Upon burial or cremation of an indigent person pursuant to section 9.15 of the Revised Code, a local government entity is eligible for reimbursement for the cost of providing burial or cremation following:

(1) Successful completion of the reimbursement application form as required under rule 4717-17-03 of the Administrative Code; and

(2) Timely submission of the reimbursement application form as required under rule 4717-17-05 of the Administrative Code.

(C) A local government entity, its authorized representative, or designee that submits an incomplete application will be notified of the incomplete status.

(D) The board will deny an incomplete application if the local government entity, its authorized representative, or designee fails to remedy and resubmit the application. An application that is denied shall include a notice providing the reason for the denial. An application that is denied is no longer eligible for reimbursement.

(E) The local government entity, its authorized representative, or designee may voluntarily withdraw the application for reimbursement at any time before the board determines eligibility.

(F) Falsification or misrepresentation of any application or document submitted to the board for reimbursement will disqualify and render the local government entity permanently ineligible to seek reimbursement.

(G) A licensed funeral director, embalmer, or crematory operator permit holder shall not aid a local government entity, its authorized representative, or designee in providing false or misleading documents to the board to secure reimbursement. Such conduct constitutes unprofessional conduct under Chapter 4717-8 of the Administrative Code.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 12:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4717.04, 269.10, 269.20
Amplifies: 4717
Five Year Review Date: 5/1/2027
Rule 4717-17-05 | Reimbursement Application Period.
 

(A) Reimbursement applications shall be submitted to the board no later than sixty days after the date of issuance of the burial transit permit or disposition permit except for burial transit permits or disposition permits that are issued from March sixteenth through the end of the fiscal year. Reimbursement applications with a burial transit permit or disposition permit issued March sixteenth and thereafter shall be submitted to the board by May sixteenth. Reimbursement applications submitted after May sixteenth will continue to be accepted through the end of the fiscal year and are subject to the availability of funds.

(B) The date of application is the date the board receives the completed application. When the completed application is mailed and received after the deadline and that deadline falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, the date of application shall be the next business day and deemed timely.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4717.04, 269.10, 269.20
Amplifies: 4717
Five Year Review Date: 2/18/2025
Rule 4717-17-06 | Reimbursements.
 

(A) The board is authorized to reimburse local government entities when such entity has satisfied the requirements set forth in paragraph (B) of rule 4717-17-04 of the Administrative Code.

(B) Subject to the availability of funds, the board shall provide reimbursement as authorized by paragraph (A) of this rule for the costs of providing burials or cremations to indigent persons at the uniform rates or uniform amounts or prescribed method determined by the board.

(C) Reimbursements shall not exceed one thousand dollars for an adult or seven hundred fifty dollars for a child. For the purposes of this chapter, a deceased is classified as an adult if age tweleve and over and as a child if the age of eleven and under.

(D) The recommendation for denial, approval, and reimbursement is at the discretion of the board or its designee based upon the eligibility, application, allotments, and availability of funds.

(E) Denial of a claim is final and does not create administrative appeal rights under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(F) The board shall not issue reimbursement to a local government entity not registered as a supplier with the state in the Ohio administrative knowledge system.

(G) Reimbursement shall be via electronic funds transfer to the bank account that the local government entity registered with the state as a supplier for receipt of reimbursement in the Ohio administrative knowledge system or by way of check in the name of the payee the local government entity registered as a supplier for receipt of reimbursement in the Ohio administrative knowledge system.

Last updated October 2, 2023 at 12:17 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4717.04, 269.10, 269.20
Amplifies: 4717
Five Year Review Date: 5/1/2027