House Bill 1376 - Summary

• Abolishes township boards statewide on January 1, 2012, transferring their legislative and fiscal powers to county fiscal bodies, which assume authority to adopt township budgets and levy township property taxes.

• Consolidates township fire departments into consolidated city fire departments on January 1, 2012 in counties with consolidated cities; in counties without consolidated cities containing second class cities, township government is abolished by January 1, 2015 or by earlier resolution date.

• Requires a public ballot question in counties without consolidated or second class cities in November 2012 asking voters whether to retain township government; if voters reject retention, township powers transfer to county on January 1, 2015.

• Transfers township assets, debts, property, equipment, records, personnel, and contracts to counties when township government is abolished, with indebtedness remaining a township obligation but assumed by the county; redistributes township tax revenue to counties.

• Establishes fire consolidation and township assistance transition advisory groups to facilitate transfers of fire protection and social services functions to counties; creates county township assistance funds and appoints county coordinators of social services to administer assistance countywide.