Ind. Code ch. 12-20-1

in effect

Ind. Code § 12-20-1-1 Purpose of article

Sec. 1. The purpose of this article is to provide necessary and prompt relief to the citizens and residents of Indiana. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 12-2-1-34 part.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14.

Ind. Code § 12-20-1-2 Construction of article

Sec. 2. This article shall be liberally construed so that the article's purposes and policies may be accomplished as equitably and expeditiously as possible. [Pre-1992 Revision Citations: 12-2-1-34 part; 12-2-1-39 part.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14.

Ind. Code § 12-20-1-3 Additional county auditor clerical help

Sec. 3. (a) Each county auditor is entitled to reasonable additional clerical help to carry out the auditor's responsibilities under this article, as determined to be necessary by each county's fiscal body. (b) The county fiscal body shall make an appropriation for the payment of additional clerical help under this section. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 12-2-1-31(e).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14.

Ind. Code § 12-20-1-4 Township assistance profiteering; township assistance fraud

Sec. 4. (a) This section does not apply to an attorney who is admitted to practice law in Indiana. (b) A person who receives any item of value from an applicant or a recipient in connection with assisting that applicant or recipient in obtaining township assistance commits township assistance profiteering, 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 assistance fraud, a Level 6 felony. For purposes of this subsection, a person unfairly profits if the person receives payment from the township trustee for goods or services that the person does not provide or the person charges the township trustee more for the goods or services than the person would charge members of the public. (d) In addition to any other penalty imposed for a conviction under subsection (c), a person who is convicted of township assistance fraud is ineligible to participate in the township assistance program 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; P.L.158-2013, SEC.180.

Ind. Code § 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 a statute, a rule, an interim guideline, a contract, an application for benefits, an eligibility standard, a tax levy, a fund, a bond issue or another form of indebtedness, or any other legal document or order shall be treated as a reference to "township assistance". (b) The renaming of "poor relief" as "township assistance" does not 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.

Ind. Code § 12-20-1-6 Payment of claims under prior law

Sec. 6. A valid claim: (1) for goods or services provided; and (2) not paid; under IC 12-2 (before its repeal) shall be paid under the corresponding provision of this article. As added by P.L.220-2011, SEC.270.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/12Fetched: 10/17/2026