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OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

CHARLES A. GRADDICK
JAMES R. SOLOMON. JR. ATTORNEY GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL 64 NORTH UNION STREET
STATE OF ALABAMA MONTGOMERY. ALABAMA 36130
H. WARD MCMILLAN. JR. AREA (205) 8345150
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

WALTER S TURNER
CHIEF ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
SEP 24 1984
JANIE NOBLES
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Mr. Rickey Stokes

Coroner
P. O. Box 6406
Dothan, Alabama 36302
Coroners - Counties - Funds
Opinions to Houston County
Coroner dated June 18, 1984,
and August 3, 1984, are
modified.
Houston County Commission may
in its discretion furnish
coroner with vehicle for use in
the performance of his duties.
Dear Mr. Stokes:
Reference is made to your request for a reconsideration
of prior opinions issued to you as Coroner of Houston County.
The following facts and question were set out in your
request:
Enclosed is a copy of local legis-
lation passed by the 1984 Regular
Legislative Session, Act No. 84-393
concerning the coroner's office for
Houston County. In Section 2 it states:
"The Houston County Commission
shall hereafter pay all neces-
sary expenses for the operation
of the county coroner's office
from the county general fund."
Based on this section your office issued
an opinion that stated that the Houston
County Commission could pay the coroner
a mileage allowance but was not author-
ized to furnish a vehicle.
Mr. Rickey Stokes
Coroner
Page Two

Presently, the Houston County Com-

mission furnishes the coroner's office
with a retired 1978 model Ford Van for
transportation and for transporting
deceased's bodies to the morgue. With
this ruling, the commission is going to
be forced to take this van from the
coroner's office.
This legislation was drafted by
Senator Chip Bailey to authorize the
commission to furnish the coroner's
office with both supplies, equipment
and transportation. I ask you to
review this opinion and hopefully
leave to the discretion of the
Houston County Commission to either
pay mileage or furnish transportation
to the coroner.
In opinions of the Attorney General dated June 18, 1984,
and August 3, 1984, the Attorney General ruled that the
Houston County Commission was authorized under Section 2 of
Act No. 84-393 as set out above in your request to pay a
mileage allowance to the county coroner.
Upon considering the facts as set out in your most
recent request, the Attorney General concludes that if the
County Commission in its discretion chooses to furnish the
county coroner with a vehicle for use in the performance of
his duties, the County Commission may do so under Act No.
84-393.
The prior opinions to you dated June 18, 1984, and
August 3, 1984, are hereby modified to this effect.
If our office can be of further assistance, please do
not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
CHARLES A. GRADDICK
Attorney General
By:

LYNDA K. OSWALD
Assistant Attorney General
LKO/dn