1. (a) A county home provided by a board of commissioners for the indigent may be discontinued in whole or in part by the board of commissioners, subject to the approval of the county fiscal body. The real and personal property that relates to a discontinued county home and that belongs to the county may be:

   1. (1) sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of, in whole or in part, as real property of the county is sold; or
   2. (2) applied in the manner that is best for the interest of the county and approved by the county fiscal body.
2. (b) If the county home of a county is discontinued under this section, the board of commissioners of the county may contract with the board of commissioners of the nearest other county that has available accommodations for the maintenance and care of the indigent individuals of the county in the county home of the other county.

3. (c) A board of commissioners that discontinues a county home under this section may contract with:

   1. (1) a person or corporation that maintains within the county an institution for the care of indigent individuals; or

   2. (2) another agency or private institution located in Indiana that has appropriate facilities and is willing to accept and provide care and maintenance for indigent individuals;

      for the maintenance and care of the indigent of the county. The contract may include reasonable terms and conditions that are agreed upon by the board of commissioners and approved by the county fiscal body.

      [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 12-4-1-5.]

As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.24.