Sec. 12. (a) This section does not apply if the county coroner assumes jurisdiction of an unclaimed body under IC 36-2-14-16.

(b) If:

(1) an individual dies in a township without leaving:

(A) money;

(B) real or personal property;

(C) other assets that may be liquidated; or

(D) other means necessary to defray funeral expenses; and

(2) the individual is not a resident of another township in Indiana;

the township trustee, as administrator of township assistance, shall provide a person to superintend and authorize either the funeral and burial or cremation of the deceased individual. If the township trustee determines that the deceased individual is a resident of another township in Indiana, the township trustee shall notify the trustee of that township, who shall then provide a person to superintend and authorize either the funeral and burial or cremation of the deceased individual.

(c) The necessary and reasonable expenses of the funeral and burial or cremation, including a burial plot, shall be paid in the same manner as other claims for township assistance. A trustee shall determine the cost for the items and services required by law for the funeral and burial of an individual, including a burial plot, and for the cremation of an individual, and include in the township's township assistance standards the maximum funeral and burial or cremation amount to be paid from township assistance funds. The trustee may deduct from the maximum amount the following:

(1) Any monetary benefits that the deceased individual is entitled to receive from a state or federal program.

(2) Any money that another person provides on behalf of the deceased individual.

(d) If an individual described in subsection (b) is a resident of a state institution at the time of the individual's death, the division that has administrative control of the state institution shall reimburse the township trustee for the necessary and reasonable expenses of the funeral and burial or cremation of the deceased individual. The township trustee shall submit to the division that has administrative control of the state institution an itemized claim for reimbursement of the necessary and reasonable funeral and burial or cremation expenses incurred by the township trustee.

(e) If an individual described in subsection (b) is a resident of a special institution governed by IC 16-33 at the time of the individual's death, the state department of health shall reimburse the township trustee for the necessary and reasonable expenses of the funeral and burial or cremation of the deceased individual. The township trustee shall submit to the state department of health an itemized claim for reimbursement of the necessary and reasonable funeral and burial or cremation expenses incurred by the township trustee.

(f) A township trustee who provides funeral and burial or cremation benefits to a deceased individual is entitled to a first priority claim, to the extent of the cost of the funeral and burial or cremation benefits paid by the township trustee, against any money or other personal property held by the coroner under IC 36-2-14-11.

(g) The township trustee may not cremate a deceased individual if:

(1) the deceased individual; or

(2) a surviving family member of the deceased individual;

has objected in writing to cremation.

(h) If a township trustee provides a funeral under this section, the cost of the funeral may not be more than the cost of the least expensive funeral, including any necessary merchandise and embalming, available from the funeral director under the funeral director's price list disclosed to the Federal Trade Commission.

[Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 12-2-1-20.]

As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.162-1995, SEC.1; P.L.51-1996, SEC.61; P.L.73-2005, SEC.78.