2005 California Military and Veterans Code Sections 940-950 Article 2. Burial of Veterans and Veterans\' Widows

940.  As used in this article, unless the context otherwise
indicates, "veteran" means a person honorably discharged from the
armed forces of the United States, including, but not limited to, the
Philippine Commonwealth Army, the Regular Scouts ("Old Scouts"), and
the Special Philippine Scouts ("New Scouts").
940.5.  As used in this article, the terms "burial" and "interment"
include cremation, except that the election of the form of interment
as between burial and cremation shall be made pursuant to the first
paragraph of Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code.
941.  This article shall not apply to soldiers, sailors, or marines
who die in the national or State soldiers' homes in this State.
942.  The board of supervisors of each county shall designate an
honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine in the county who has
served in or with the army or navy of the United States and who shall
cause to be decently interred the body of any veteran or widow of a
veteran who dies in the county without having sufficient means to
defray the expenses of burial, other than moneys paid or due and
payable by the United States, pursuant to the World War adjusted
compensation act.
943.  Such burial shall not be made in any cemetery or burial
ground, or any portion thereof, used exclusively for the burial of
the pauper dead.
944.  In the event a deceased veteran or a widow of a veteran has
been interred other than by the person designated by the board of
supervisors, the person so designated may pay the sum of two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) toward the burial expenses of the person who
would have been entitled to interment by the person designated by the
supervisors.
945.  The expenses to the county of each burial or contribution
shall not exceed the sum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250).  Claims
therefor are governed by Part 3 (commencing with Section 900) and
Part 4 (commencing with Section 940) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of
the Government Code.
946.  Such claims shall be paid by the county in which the veteran
or widow dies.  If the decedent was a resident of any other county
than the one paying the claim, the county of the decedent's residence
shall refund the money advanced by the county where such person
died.  Such claims shall be audited and paid by the county as other
accounts.
947.  The person appointed under section 942, before he assumes the
charge and expenses of any burial, shall first satisfy himself by a
careful inquiry into and examination of all the circumstances in the
case that the family of the decedent, if any, residing in the county,
is unable for want of means to defray the expenses of the burial.
If he finds such inability he shall cause the decedent to be buried
as provided in this article.  He shall immediately report his action
to the clerk of the board of supervisors of the county, stating all
the facts and that he found the family of the decedent in indigent
circumstances and unable to pay the expenses of the burial.  He shall
also report the name, rank, and command of the veteran, the date of
death, place of burial, occupation, and an itemized statement of the
expenses of such burial.
948.  The clerk of the board of supervisors, upon receiving the
report and statement of expenses, shall transcribe in a book kept for
that purpose all the facts contained in the report respecting such
decedent.  The clerk, upon the burial of any honorably discharged
soldier, sailor, or marine, shall make application to the proper
authorities of the United States, for a suitable headstone, as
provided by act of Congress, and cause the same to be placed at the
head of the grave of such soldier, sailor, or marine.  The expenses
shall not exceed ten dollars ($10) for cartage and properly setting
each stone.
949.  The board of supervisors shall perpetually maintain the grave
of any such honorably discharged soldier, sailor, or marine.  The
expenses thus incurred shall be audited and paid as provided in
section 946 for burial expenses.
950.  The person appointed under section 942 shall receive no
compensation for any duties he may perform in compliance with this
article.