53-3-116. Indigent assistance -- optional county program. (1) A county may provide a program of indigent assistance that it determines necessary. The program may include assistance for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and medical assistance for individuals not eligible for state or federal programs providing similar assistance. A county may provide for the burial, entombment, or cremation of indigents. The indigent assistance program of the county includes:
     (a) job search, job training, work-for-assistance, and employment programs; and
     (b) health care, preventive care, and wellness programs as determined by the county commissioners.
     (2) A county may establish the criteria for determining eligibility for assistance, including but not limited to residency requirements, limits on income and resources, and the amount, scope, and duration of assistance.
     (3) A county may deny assistance for a reasonable period if a person has voluntarily left employment without good cause or is discharged due to misconduct.
     (4) The program may be funded with money derived from a county mill levy as authorized by law.
     (5) A person is indigent for purposes of this subsection if the value of all income and resources available to pay for that person's burial, entombment, or cremation at the time of death is less than the negotiated amount due the funeral home or mortician for an indigent burial. Available income and resources may be determined by the county.
     (6) A county may seek reimbursement under 40-6-303, if applicable, for costs paid under this section.
     (7) A county may not deduct amounts that may be recovered from an adult child of a deceased indigent or recovered from resources of a deceased indigent from a contract amount due a funeral home or mortician for burial services provided under 7-4-2915 or this section. A funeral home or a mortician that recovers an amount in excess of a contract amount paid under this subsection shall reimburse the county for the amount recovered up to the amount of the contract.

     History: En. Sec. 24, Ch. 561, L. 1993; Sec. 53-2-804, MCA 1995; redes. 53-3-116 by Sec. 314(3), Ch. 42, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 30, Ch. 571, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 158, Ch. 574, L. 2001.