(a) When a person in any town, or sent from such town to any licensed institution or state humane institution, dies or is found dead therein and does not leave sufficient estate and has no legally liable relative able to pay the cost of a proper funeral and burial, or upon the death of any beneficiary under the state-administered general assistance program, the Commissioner of Social Services shall give to such person a proper funeral and burial, and shall pay a sum not exceeding one thousand three hundred fifty dollars as an allowance toward the funeral expenses of such decedent. Said sum shall be paid, upon submission of a proper bill, to the funeral director, cemetery or crematory, as the case may be. Such payment for funeral and burial expenses shall be reduced by (1) the amount in any revocable or irrevocable funeral fund, (2) any prepaid funeral contract, (3) the face value of any life insurance policy owned by the decedent that names a funeral home, cemetery or crematory as a beneficiary, (4) the net value of all liquid assets in the decedent’s estate, and (5) contributions in excess of three thousand four hundred dollars toward such funeral and burial expenses from all other sources including friends, relatives and all other persons, organizations, agencies, veterans’ programs and other benefit programs. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 17b-90, whenever payment for funeral, burial or cremation expenses is reduced due to liquid assets in the decedent’s estate, the commissioner may disclose information concerning such liquid assets to the funeral director, cemetery or crematory providing funeral, burial or cremation services for the decedent.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section and § 17b-84, the Commissioner of Social Services shall, upon submission of a proper bill, pay the maximum amount authorized under subsection (a) of this section to a funeral director, cemetery or crematory if the Chief Medical Examiner, or the Chief Medical Examiner’s designee, certifies that, after an investigation, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was unable to locate any person with a connection to the decedent, including a relative or friend, who was willing to take possession of the decedent’s remains, and that the decedent’s remains were therefore transferred to such funeral director, cemetery or crematory for disposition.

(c) The Commissioner of Social Services may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.