IC 12-14-23
    Chapter 23. Community Action Agencies; Community ActionBoards

IC 12-14-23-1
Legislative policy; purpose of chapter
    Sec. 1. (a) It is the policy of Indiana to help develop the fullpotential of each of its citizens so that they can live in decency anddignity and so that they can contribute to the strength of the state asa whole. The resources of the private sector of the economy shouldbe employed to increase the opportunities for people to develop theircapabilities.
    (b) It is the purpose of this chapter to strengthen, supplement, andcoordinate efforts that further the policies stated in subsection (a).
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.

IC 12-14-23-2
"Community action agency" defined
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "community action agency" meansan entity that meets the following conditions:
        (1) Is any of the following:
            (A) A private nonprofit organization that is geographicallylocated within a community.
            (B) A private nonprofit organization that is located in acounty or counties contiguous to or within reasonableproximity of a community.
            (C) A political subdivision, if there is no qualified nonprofitorganization identified that meets the criteria set forth inclause A or B.
        (2) Has the authority under state or federal law to receivemoney to support the community action programs described insections 3 and 4 of this chapter.
        (3) Is designated as a community action agency by the governoror by federal law.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.186-2001, SEC.7.

IC 12-14-23-3
"Community action program" defined
    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "community action program"means a community based and operated program that meets thefollowing conditions:
        (1) Includes or is designed to include a sufficient number ofprojects or components to provide a range of services andactivities that have a measurable and potentially major impacton causes of poverty in:
            (A) the community; or
            (B) those areas of the community where poverty is aparticularly acute problem.
        (2) Has been developed, and organizes and combines theprogram's component projects and activities, in a manner

appropriate to carry out all the purposes of this chapter.
        (3) Conforms to any other criteria that the governor prescribesconsistent with this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.

IC 12-14-23-4
Community action programs; design and purpose; components
    Sec. 4. (a) The components of a community action program shallbe designed to assist participants, including the poor and near poor,persons with disabilities, farmworkers, the elderly, and youth, to dothe following:
        (1) Secure and retain meaningful employment.
        (2) Attain an adequate education.
        (3) Make better use of available income.
        (4) Provide and maintain adequate housing and a suitable livingenvironment.
        (5) Undertake family planning consistent with personal andfamily goals and religious and moral convictions.
        (6) Obtain services for the following:
            (A) The prevention of narcotics addiction and alcoholism.
            (B) The rehabilitation of narcotic addicts and alcoholics.
        (7) Obtain emergency assistance through loans or grants to meetimmediate and urgent individual and family needs, includingthe need for health services, nutritious food, housing, andemployment related assistance.
        (8) Remove obstacles and solve personal and family problemsthat block the achievement of self-sufficiency.
        (9) Achieve greater participation in the affairs of thecommunity.
        (10) Make more frequent and effective use of other programsrelated to the purposes of this chapter.
    (b) Components of a community action program may be:
        (1) administered by:
            (A) the community action agency when consistent withsound and efficient management and applicable law; or
            (B) other agencies;
        (2) projects assisted from other public or private sources; and
        (3) specially designed to meet local needs, or designed underthe eligibility standards of a state or federal program providingassistance to a particular type of activity that will help meetlocal needs.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.

IC 12-14-23-5
Organization under IC 12-14-23; right to receive state or federalfunds
    Sec. 5. A community action agency may not receive state orfederal money appropriated or allocated by the state to carry outcommunity action programs unless the agency is organized inaccordance with this chapter.As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.

IC 12-14-23-6
Administration of programs; community action board
    Sec. 6. (a) Each community action agency shall administer theagency's community action programs through a volunteer communityaction board consisting of not less than fifteen (15) and not morethan fifty-one (51) members.
    (b) One-third (1/3) of the members of the board must be electedpublic officials currently holding office or representatives of thepublic officials.
    (c) At least one-third (1/3) of the members of the board must bepersons chosen by democratic selection procedures that are adequateto assure that those members are representative of the poor in thearea served.
    (d) The other members of the board must be officials or membersof business, industry, labor, religious, welfare, education, or othermajor groups and interests in the community.
    (e) Each member of the board selected to represent a specificgeographic area within a community must reside in the arearepresented.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.

IC 12-14-23-7
Subsidiary board or agency responsible for major policydetermination; representation of geographic area
    Sec. 7. If a community action agency places in a subsidiary board,council, or similar agency the responsibility for major policydetermination concerning the character, funding, extent,administration, and budgeting of programs to be carried on in aparticular geographic area within the community, the board, council,or agency must be broadly representative of the geographic area.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.

IC 12-14-23-8
Community action agencies; consultation with neighborhood basedorganizations
    Sec. 8. Each community action agency shall consult neighborhoodbased organizations composed of:
        (1) residents of the area served; or
        (2) members of the groups served;
to assist the agency in the planning, conduct, and evaluation ofcomponents of the community action program.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.

IC 12-14-23-9
Community action agencies; powers, duties, and activities
    Sec. 9. A community action agency shall do the following:
        (1) Systematically plan for an effective community actionprogram.        (2) Develop information concerning the problems and causes ofpoverty in the community.
        (3) Determine the amount and effectiveness of the assistancebeing provided to deal with the problems and causes of povertyin the community.
        (4) Establish priorities among projects, activities, and areas toensure the best and most efficient use of resources.
        (5) Encourage agencies engaged in activities related to thecommunity action program to do the following:
            (A) Plan for, secure, and administer available assistance ona common or cooperative basis.
            (B) Provide planning or technical assistance to thoseagencies.
        (6) In cooperation with community agencies and officials,undertake actions to improve existing efforts to reduce poverty,including the following:
            (A) Improving day-to-day communications.
            (B) Closing service gaps.
            (C) Focusing resources on the most needy.
            (D) Providing additional opportunities to low incomeindividuals for any of the following:
                (i) Regular employment.
                (ii) Participation in the programs or activities for whichthose community agencies and officials are responsible.
        (7) Initiate and sponsor projects responsive to those needs of thepoor that are not otherwise being met. The projects mustemphasize the following:
            (A) Providing central or common services that can be drawnupon by various related programs.
            (B) Developing new approaches or new types of servicesthat can be incorporated into other programs.
            (C) Filling gaps pending the expansion or modification ofthe programs.
        (8) Establish effective procedures to do the following:
            (A) Enable the poor and the affected area residents toinfluence the character of programs affecting the interests ofthe poor and the affected area.
            (B) Provide for regular participation of the poor and theaffected area residents in the implementation of theprograms.
            (C) Provide technical and other support needed to enable thepoor and neighborhood groups to secure available assistancefrom public and private sources.
        (9) Join with and encourage business, labor, and other privategroups and organizations to undertake, together with publicofficials and agencies, activities in support of the communityaction program that will result in the additional use of privateresources and capabilities. These activities shall be undertakenfor the following purposes:
            (A) Developing new employment opportunities.            (B) Stimulating investment that will have a measurableimpact on reducing poverty among residents of areas ofconcentrated poverty.
            (C) Providing methods by which residents of the areas canwork with private groups, firms, and institutions in seekingsolutions to problems of common concern.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.

IC 12-14-23-10
Interlocal cooperation agreements
    Sec. 10. Community action agencies may enter into interlocalcooperation agreements with units of government.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.8.