To the Honorable Senate
and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
in
General Court assembled.
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens
respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill or resolve.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the
authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 9 of chapter 117A of the General Laws as
appearing in the 2002 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking the
section in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following new
section:—
Section 9. The department shall provide for the decent
interment of all deceased persons who are at the time of death recipients of
aid or assistance under this chapter, all deceased persons who, although
without means of support at the time of death, did not apply for such aid or
assistance; and all unknown persons found dead. The expense thereof may
be recovered of their kindred, if any, chargeable by law for their support in
the manner provided in this chapter; and if the expense of their funeral and
interment is not paid by such kindred, an amount not exceeding eleven hundred
dollars shall be paid by the commonwealth; provided further, that the
commonwealth shall have the right of reimbursement from whatever resources may
exist in the estate of said person.
SECTION 2. Section 10 of chapter 117A of the General Laws, as
so appearing, is hereby amended by striking the section in its entirety and
inserting in place thereof the following new section:—
Section 10. In case of the decease of a poor and indigent
person the commonwealth shall pay toward the expense of the funeral
and interment of such person a sum not exceeding eleven hundred dollars;
provided, however, that the commonwealth shall have the right of reimbursement
from whatever resources may exist in the estate of said person.
SECTION 3. Section 2 of Chapter 118 of the General Laws, as so
appearing, is hereby amended by striking the third paragraph in lines 29
through 35 inclusive and inserting in place thereof the following new paragraph:—
“The department may pay a sum not exceeding eleven hundred dollars
toward the funeral and interment of a recipient provided that there are
insufficient resources to pay for the cost of such funeral and interment. The
commonwealth shall have the right of reimbursement from whatever resources may
exist in the estate of the recipient.”
SECTION 4. Section 7 of Chapter 118A of the General Laws, as
so appearing, is hereby amended by striking the section in its entirety and
inserting in place thereof the following new section:—
Section 7. The department shall provide to aged and disabled
residents of the commonwealth under this chapter a program of social services
as enumerated under section two of chapter eighteen. In addition to the other
benefits authorized by this chapter, the department may provide to such
recipients grants of assistance in cases of fire, flood, or other disaster. The
department may pay a sum not exceeding eleven hundred dollars toward the
funeral and interment of a recipient provided that there are insufficient
resources to pay for the cost of such funeral and interment. The Commonwealth
shall have the right of reimbursement from whatever resources may exist in the
estate of the recipient.
SECTION 5. Section 23 of Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as
so appearing, is hereby amended by striking the fifteenth paragraph in lines
138 to 145 inclusive and inserting in place there of the following new
paragraph:—
“H. The department may pay a sum not exceeding eleven hundred
dollars toward the funeral and interment of a child in its care provided that
there are insufficient resources to pay for the cost of such funeral and
interment. The Commonwealth shall have the right of reimbursement from
whatever resources may exist in the estate of the child.”
