CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

IC 12-20
    ARTICLE 20. TOWNSHIP ASSISTANCE

IC 12-20-1
    Chapter 1. General Provisions

IC 12-20-1-1
Purpose of article
    Sec. 1. The purpose of this article is to provide necessary andprompt relief to the citizens and residents of Indiana.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14.

IC 12-20-1-2
Construction of article
    Sec. 2. This article shall be liberally construed so that the article'spurposes and policies may be accomplished as equitably andexpeditiously as possible.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14.

IC 12-20-1-3
Additional county auditor clerical help
    Sec. 3. (a) Each county auditor is entitled to reasonable additionalclerical help to carry out the auditor's responsibilities under thisarticle, as determined to be necessary by each county's fiscal body.
    (b) The county fiscal body shall make an appropriation for thepayment of additional clerical help under this section.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14.

IC 12-20-1-4
Township assistance profiteering; township assistance fraud
    Sec. 4. (a) This section does not apply to an attorney who isadmitted to practice law in Indiana.
    (b) A person who receives any item of value from an applicant ora recipient in connection with assisting that applicant or recipient inobtaining township assistance commits township assistanceprofiteering, a Class C misdemeanor.
    (c) A person who unfairly profits from the:
        (1) sale, lease, or rental of goods or shelter; or
        (2) provision of services;
to a township assistance recipient commits township assistancefraud, a Class D felony. For purposes of this subsection, a personunfairly profits if the person receives payment from the townshiptrustee for goods or services that the person does not provide or theperson charges the township trustee more for the goods or servicesthan the person would charge members of the public.
    (d) In addition to any other penalty imposed for a convictionunder subsection (c), a person who is convicted of townshipassistance fraud is ineligible to participate in the township assistanceprogram for thirty (30) years after the date of the conviction.
As added by P.L.51-1996, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.73-2005,

SEC.10.

IC 12-20-1-5
References to "poor relief"; legal effect of name change
    Sec. 5. (a) After June 30, 2005, a reference to "poor relief" in astatute, a rule, an interim guideline, a contract, an application forbenefits, an eligibility standard, a tax levy, a fund, a bond issue oranother form of indebtedness, or any other legal document or ordershall be treated as a reference to "township assistance".
    (b) The renaming of "poor relief" as "township assistance" doesnot affect:
        (1) any rights or liabilities accrued;
        (2) any penalties incurred;
        (3) any violations committed;
        (4) any proceedings begun;
        (5) any contract;
        (6) any application for or standard of benefits;
        (7) any tax levy;
        (8) any fund;
        (9) any bond issue or other form of indebtedness; or
        (10) any legal document or order.
As added by P.L.20-2010, SEC.7.