§ 152-a. Burial reserves for certain recipients of public assistance or care from assigned assets. When other provisions of this chapter providing for reserving an amount for the burial of a recipient of public assistance or care, from assets transferred or assigned to a social services official, do not apply to a recipient because of the category of public assistance or care received by him or her, as in the case of a recipient of safety net assistance, a similar burial reserve from assigned assets may or shall, as the regulations of the department may permit or require, be set aside for such recipient; and any such burial reserve heretofore set aside with the approval of the department, or in accordance with its requirements, shall be deemed to have been authorized.