(a)    (1)    A public officer who has control of a body immediately shall notify the chairman of the Board if, after a reasonable search, the public officer has not found a person who will take control of the body for its final disposition.

(2)    Subject to the limitations imposed on nursing homes under § 10–214 of the Human Services Article, any other person who has control of a body may notify the Board if, after a reasonable search, the person has not found a person who will take control of the body for its final disposition.

(b)    (1)    Subject to the time limitations in this subsection, when the Board is notified of the existence of a body, the Board may remove the body to a morgue in Baltimore City that the Board designates for that purpose.

(2)    If the person who notifies the Board can refrigerate the body suitably, the body may be removed only at the expiration of 72 hours after death.

(3)    If the person who notifies the Board cannot refrigerate the body suitably, the body may be removed as soon as feasible after death, and, on arrival at the morgue, shall be refrigerated until the expiration of 72 hours after death.

(c)    (1)    On expiration of 72 hours after death, the body shall be under the exclusive control of the Board and may be embalmed.

(2)    If the body is embalmed, it shall be embalmed in a proper manner by an individual whom the Board designates.

(3)    Any relative or friend of the deceased may claim the body and, on payment to the Board of its cost of moving and embalming the body, shall receive it.

(4)    The Board may waive its costs under this section upon a showing of hardship by the relative or friend.