The bill amends Section 40-6-3.10 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6, known as the "Public Assistance Act," to address the provision of funeral and burial expenses for deceased residents of the state who are eligible under the department's rules and regulations. The amendment includes an insertion that specifically names the section as "Funeral and burial expenses." It outlines the department's responsibility to establish cost standards for reasonable funeral and burial expenses, which include a maximum amount payable by the department and the total allowable costs. The bill also stipulates that the amount payable will be reduced by any contributions from friends or relatives that exceed the established maximum allowable costs. Additionally, applications for payment must be made before final funeral arrangements are concluded, with a 30-day period after the decedent's death allowed for applications to be submitted by legally liable relatives or agents.

Significant changes in the bill include the deletion of the previous standard burial allowance payment of nine hundred dollars ($900) and its replacement with an insertion increasing the amount to one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). The bill also specifies that contributions from friends or other kindred, excluding legally-liable relatives, for upgraded services and merchandise up to one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) will not affect eligibility for the basic allowance. Furthermore, the bill details the process for handling unclaimed deceased bodies and the department's role in such cases, including the potential authorization of burial by the director of the department even if the decedent's assets are available. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7669: 40-6-3.10