HB 1317 Summary

• Township Government Elimination: After December 31, 2012, county fiscal bodies assume all legislative and fiscal powers of township boards; voters in each county decide via November 2012 ballot whether to completely abolish township trustee offices effective January 1, 2014.

• County Fiscal Body Powers: County fiscal bodies exercise all legislative and fiscal powers assigned to township boards, including adopting annual budgets and levying township property taxes; for 2013 budgets, appropriations limited by assessed value growth quotient unless county appeals for relief.

• Property and Duties Transfer: If voters approve elimination, township powers regarding assistance, cemeteries, and weeds transfer to county executive; township assessor duties transfer to county assessor; fire protection transfers to new fire protection districts or consolidated city fire departments.

• Marion County Consolidations: Fire departments consolidate into consolidated city fire department; small claims court responsibilities transfer to mayor and city-county council; small claims court constables abolished and replaced by city public safety department personnel.

• Additional Governance Changes: Establishes nepotism prohibitions for political subdivisions; requires separate reporting of executive reimbursements; allows counties to adopt single-commissioner executive structure; abolishes township boards statewide effective January 1, 2013.