(a) When a committed criminal offender is released on parole or probation or is discharged, the department, at the discretion of the department, shall:

1. (1) either:

   1. (A) procure transportation for him to his designated place of residence;
   2. (B) procure public transportation for the released offender to the Indiana city or town that is nearest to the released offender's designated place of residence; or
   3. (C) upon request of the offender, provide transportation for the released offender to any other place in Indiana as the commissioner may designate; and

2. (2) provide him with an amount of money to be determined by the department in accordance with procedures approved by the budget agency to enable him to meet his immediate needs.

   Except as provided in subdivision (2), a criminal offender is not entitled to receive a payment in lieu of transportation under this subsection.

(b) The department shall establish standards for use in determining the amount of money to be paid under subsection (a)(2) to a criminal offender upon release on parole or probation or upon discharge. These standards:

1. (1) must be consistently applied to each criminal offender upon release or discharge;
2. (2) must take into account amounts earned by criminal offenders through work release programs before release or discharge; and

3. (3) may allow for no payment to criminal offenders who are determined by the department to have accumulated a sufficient amount of money to meet the criminal offender's immediate needs upon release or discharge.

   As added by Acts 1979, P.L.120, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.128-1985, SEC.1; P.L.240-1991(ss2), SEC.56; P.L.264-1999, SEC.1.